Heavy snow warning as 20 inches to strike: ‘Avoid travel’

Warnings for heavy snow and strong winds have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) as it predicts that up to 20 inches of snow and winds reaching 60 mph could hit some states from Tuesday, meaning drivers in affected areas should “avoid travel if possible.”

States Affected By Heavy Snow and Strong Winds

California, Colorado, Alaska, Maine, Montana, Wyoming and Oregon have all been issued with winter weather advisories and winter storm watches, some of which are in effect until Friday.  

California 

The NWS has warned that there’s a 75 percent chance that parts of the upper San Joaquin River and Yosemite National Park could get up to 6 inches of snow and winds reaching 55 mph through Tuesday, into Wednesday morning. This is likely to create “whiteout conditions,” making driving “very difficult” and “hazardous.”

Mono county could see 60 mph winds and between 6 and 14 inches of snow in areas above 8,000 feet—between 1 and 2 inches of snow is expected along and west of US-395—through Tuesday, into Wednesday morning. 

Colorado

Parts of Rabbit Ears Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Medicine Bow Range, the Mountains of Summit County, and the Indian Peaks are expected to get between 3 and 10 inches of snow and 45 mph winds from late Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday evening. 

Between 4 and 10 inches and 50 mph winds are forecast to blast areas above 11,000 feet in the eastern Sawatch Mountains and the western Mosquito Range—including East Lake county—and areas above 10,000 feet in the La Garita Mountains and the eastern San Juan Mountains from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday night. 

Northwest and southwest parts of the San Juan Mountains, Elkhead and Park Mountains, and the Flat Tops could get between 6 and 12 inches of snow and 45 mph winds from Tuesday afternoon, lasting until Wednesday evening. 

The Gore Mountains, the Central Mountain Valleys, the Grand and Battlement Mesas, and the West Elk and Sawatch Mountains could also see similar conditions—up to 12 inches of snow and 40 mph winds—until Wednesday evening. 

The NWS has warned that travel over the mountain passes could be difficult, particularly on Wednesday morning.  

Alaska

Up to 3 inches of snow could fall across Glacier Bay, eastern Chichagof Island, the Cape Fairweather to Lisianski Strait, and the city and borough of Juneau by early Tuesday morning. 

Maine

Parts of the central Highlands, the North Woods, and the far eastern and northern parts of Maine could see up to 4 inches of sleet and snow from Tuesday afternoon into mid-Wednesday morning. 

Montana 

The Beartooth and Red Lodge Foothills—including parts of US-212—are likely to get up to 6 inches of snow by Tuesday morning, with the highest amount likely to fall near the Beartooth Mountains. 

A winter storm watch has been issued for the Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains, the upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass, the southern Rocky Mountain front, and northwest Beaverhead county, as up to 14 inches of snow is expected to fall through Thursday, with winds reaching 40 mph.

Parts of central, north central, and southwest Montana could get 40 mph winds and up to 8 inches of snow in areas below 5,000 feet and up to 16 inches above 5,000 feet from Thursday afternoon into Friday morning.  

Wyoming

The Sierra Madre and Snowy Ranges are forecast to get between 6 and 12 inches of snow—particularly in areas above 9,000 feet—and winds gusting around 45 mph from Tuesday afternoon and through Wednesday, before dying out on Wednesday night.

The NWS has warned that outdoor activities may become dangerous for those unprepared for the severe winter conditions, as blowing snow and low visibility may quickly disorientate hunters, hikers and snowmobilers.  

Oregon

The eastern slopes of the Oregon Cascades are under a winter storm watch as between 7 and 11 inches of snow, coupled with 40 mph winds, is expected to hit late Tuesday night, through to Thursday. 

The northern and central parts of the Oregon Cascades are also under a winter storm watch, with 35 mph winds and up to 18 inches of snow forecast from Tuesday night until Thursday afternoon. 

The southern Oregon Cascades, north of Howard Prairie Lake, and the eastern Douglas county foothills (above 3000 feet), including the passes along Highways 140, 62, 138, 230, and 58, could see between 10 and 20 inches of snow and 40 mph winds from Wednesday morning into Thursday afternoon.

The NWS has warned that there’s a 50 to 70 percent chance that snowfall rates will be over 1 inch per hour along the Cascade passes—especially from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning—making driving conditions hazardous.