The next winter storm in the Aspen and Snowmass area is expected to start overnight Sunday and last into Monday evening, and then another storm is predicted to start Christmas Day and go into Wednesday.
The National Weather Service office in Grand Junction on Sunday afternoon issued a winter weather advisory starting at 11 p.m. Sunday and lasting into Christmas Eve. This storm is forecast to drop 4 to 8 inches of snow in the central and northern Colorado mountains.
“Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches expected with locally higher amounts possible (and) winds gusting as high as 35 mph,” according to Sunday’s advisory. Mountains ranges include the Elk, Gore, Elkhead and Park mountains.
More winter weather is headed our way. Here’s a look at the latest snowfall forecast through 5 pm Christmas Day! If you plan to travel, make sure you check the latest forecast and call 511 for the most recent road reports. #cowx #utwx ❄️☃️? pic.twitter.com/CdS6dxaL5S
— NWS Grand Junction (@NWSGJT) December 23, 2018
A series of Pacific storms will move into the Western states, and “unsettled weather will continue” across western Colorado through the holiday week. Snow will affect all mountain passes through Wednesday, the NWS said.
The outlook calls for another storm starting Tuesday (Christmas) and lasting into Wednesday. It is predicted to track mainly through the southern part of the state.
“A stronger storm is expected to pass south of the Four Corners region” during Tuesday and Wednesday, the NWS outlook says. “There is the potential for heavy snowfall over the San Juan, La Sal and Abajo mountains. Amounts could range from 8 to 16 inches with locally higher amounts above the timberline. Lighter snowfall is expected across the central mountains of eastern Utah and western Colorado.”
A third storm is forecast to start Thursday and extend into the weekend, the NWS is predicting.
“There is still some questions on who will see the snow and just how much, but confidence is growing (that) we will see some fresh snow through the Christmas holiday,” the weather service states.