Summit County Citizens Voice

Snow expected Wednesday night through Thursday and possibly Friday; hunters, hikers and travelers warned of potentially hazardous conditions

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — In a 1 p.m. update, the National Weather Service expanded a winter storm watch to cover most Colorado mountains beginning late Wednesday night lasting through Thursday. The storm could drop 6 to 12 inches of snow above 9,000 feet, with 3 to  inches of snow possible between 7,000 and 9,000 feet. Click here for the forecast discussion.

Snow levels will fluctuate between 9,000 and 10,000 feet Wednesday night and Thursday morning but will lower to valley levels Thursday afternoon as a strong cold front associated with the Pacific storm rolls through the area. Drivers, hunters and hikers in the Colorado mountains should be prepared for winter-like conditions, including winds gusting between 30 and 40 mph.

Driving conditions will become hazardous across many mountain passes, especially by Thursday evening when temps drop below freezing. Snow and rain will begin in southwest and south-central Colorado and gradually spread across the state’s mountains as a closed low pressure system moves eastward from Nevada.

Temps Wednesday will drop several degrees from Tuesday’s highs, and much colder air will start to move in Thursday. Highs Friday and Saturday will probably not reach the 40s. Drying and warming will begin Sunday.

Thursday’s low temperatures will drop into the low 20s in many mountain locations. Friday’s high is officially forecast at 40 for Frisco, with a high of 36 degrees Saturday.

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, Summit County snow and weather, Weatherblog Tagged: | Colorado first snow, Colorado weather, National Weather Service, Summit County Colorado, winter storm watch Colorado