Winter Storm Warning Issued for Grand and Battlement Mesas, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a Winter Storm Warning for high-elevation regions in western Colorado. The alert is effective from 11:00 PM MST on Monday, February 16, through 5:00 AM MST on Thursday, February 19.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Grand and Battlement Mesas
• West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers are advised to take the following precautions:

• If travel is unavoidable, keep an extra flashlight, food, water, and warm clothing in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
• Monitor the latest road conditions by calling 5 1 1.
• Prepare for potential power outages due to strong winds and tree damage.

Expected Conditions

• Snow Accumulation: Heavy snow is expected, with total accumulations between 10 and 20 inches. Locally higher amounts are possible in some areas.
• Wind Speeds: Winds are forecast to gust as high as 70 mph.
• Visibility: Blowing snow may result in near zero visibility at times.
• Impacts: Travel could become very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions are expected to significantly impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes. Strong winds may also cause damage to trees.

Timeline

• Onset: The storm conditions are expected to begin at 11:00 PM MST on Monday, February 16.
• Duration: The warning remains in effect until 5:00 AM MST on Thursday, February 19.