Snowmass

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER. AVALANCHE WARNING FOR THE CAIC VAIL AND SUMMIT COUNTY, ASPEN, AND GUNNISON ZONES

TIMING...Beginning 6:00 AM Friday December 13. Expires at 7:00 AM Sunday December 15.

AFFECTED AREA... Williams Fork Mountains, Ten Mile Range, Gore Range, Vail, Elk Mountains, Basalt, Red table, Hardscrabble, Ruby Range, and West elk Mountains

AVALANCHE DANGER...The avalanche danger is HIGH (Level 4 of 5). Avalanches large enough to bury a person are likely today. You can trigger avalanches from the bottom of slopes or from a distance. If you trigger an avalanche it will break deep in the snowpack and will be large and very dangerous.

REASON... Intense snowfall and strong winds will result in very dangerous avalanche conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Consult www.colorado.gov/avalanche for detailed information. Cooperstein

...Atmospheric River to Bring Periods of Moderate to Heavy Mountain Snow... .A prolonged atmospheric river event will bring moderate snow to the western Colorado mountains as well as the southern mountains in southeast Utah through Sunday with a few periods of heavy snow. Snow showers will generally favor the northern and central mountains today with a decrease in snow intensity this evening. Showers will then spread south late tonight and continue through Sunday before showers taper off from north to south. ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST SUNDAY...

WHAT...Snow, moderate to heavy at times. Additional snow accumulations of 8 to 20 inches with locally higher amounts exceeding two feet. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

WHERE...Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys.

WHEN...Until 5 PM MST Sunday.

IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. A detailed map of the snowfall can be found at: www.weather.gov/gjt/winter.

...Atmospheric River to Bring Periods of Moderate Mountain Snow... .A prolonged atmospheric river event will bring moderate snow to the northern and central Colorado mountains beginning Thursday. Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow is likely for these areas with locally higher amounts possible through Friday afternoon. While light snow showers will continue Friday evening, snow intensity will not pick up again until toward midnight Friday night. All the mountains of western Colorado as well as the La Sal and Abajo Mountains in southeast Utah will see periods of moderate snow through Sunday before showers taper off from north to south. Additional accumulations of 5 to 10 inches across the northern mountains and 6 to 14 inches are possible for the central and southern mountains. ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY... ...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

WHAT...Snow, moderate to heavy at times, expected. For the Winter Storm Warning, total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches with locally higher amounts. For the Winter Storm Watch, total snow accumulations of 8 to 14 inches with locally higher amounts possible. Expect lower amounts below 8500 feet. Winds gusting up to 45 to 50 mph.

WHERE...Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys.

WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from 11 AM this morning to 5 PM MST Friday. For the Winter Storm Watch, from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.

IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. A detailed map of the snowfall can be found at: www.weather.gov/gjt/winter.

...Atmospheric River to Bring Periods of Moderate Mountain Snow... .A prolonged atmospheric river event will bring moderate snow to the northern and central Colorado mountains beginning Thursday. Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow is likely for these areas with locally higher amounts possible through Friday afternoon. While light snow showers will continue Friday evening, snow intensity will not pick up again until midnight Friday night as showers spread into the southern mountains. All the mountains of western Colorado as well as the La Sal and Abajo Mountains in southeast Utah will see periods of moderate snow through Sunday before showers taper off from north to south. Additional accumulations of 5 to 10 inches across the northern mountains and generally 6 to 14 inches is possible for the central and southern mountains with locally higher amounts likely. ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THURSDAY TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY... ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

WHAT...Snow, moderate to heavy at times, expected. For the Winter Weather Advisory, total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches with locally higher amounts up to a foot. For the Winter Storm Watch, total snow accumulations of 6 to 13 inches with locally higher amounts possible. Expect lower amounts below 8500 feet. Winds gusting up to 45 to 50 mph.

WHERE...Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys and West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, including Vail Pass.

WHEN...For the Winter Weather Advisory, from 5 PM Thursday to 5 PM MST Friday. For the Winter Storm Watch, from late Friday night through Sunday afternoon.

IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. A detailed map of the snowfall can be found at: www.weather.gov/gjt/winter.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Light snow will continue after 5 PM MST Friday. However, accumulations will be light and no significant impacts are expected. Snow rates will pick back up again late Friday night with activity continuing through Sunday.