Another round of snow with a forecast of as much as a foot Friday could make travel difficult around Aspen and Snowmass, the National Weather Service said Thursday evening in a winter weather advisory.
The forecast calls for 6 to 12 inches of snow by Friday night and winds gusting to 35 mph in the central and northern Colorado mountains. The advisory area includes the Elk and Gore mountains, up to the Steamboat area and toward Vail.
The NWS advisory in in effect until 6 p.m., and the update Thursday evening said the “hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.” Mountain passes will be difficult for holiday travelers, as heavy, wet snow is expected through most of the Colorado high country.
Parts of southern and western Colorado are under a winter weather warning with more than a foot predicted in some areas, the NWS said.
The forecasted snow has increased the avalanche danger to high (level 4 out of 5) and backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not advised, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center warned. This storm comes after up to 15 inches of snow fell Wednesday in the central mountains.
“Expect a heavy snow load on a weak snowpack beginning late Thursday night and continuing through Friday,” the CAIC said.
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The avalanche danger will rise rapidly, according to the state agency, and slides will be large and easy to trigger or occur naturally in much of the Colorado high country.
The storm is forecast to clear out by Saturday, and the next chance for snow in the area on Monday and again Wednesday, the NWS said.