colorado winter weather advisory snow: trending now

Colorado Winter Weather Advisory: Mountain Snow Totals, Travel Impacts, and Forecast Updates

A seasonal shift is driving a trending Colorado winter weather advisory across the state’s high country, bringing the first significant wave of accumulating mountain snow and hazardous travel conditions.

Key Alert Details and Snow Accumulation

• Active Alerts: The National Weather Service has issued Winter Weather Advisories for several high-elevation zones, including the Elkhead, Park, Gore, Elk, Sawatch, Flat Tops, and San Juan mountain ranges.

  9News

• Elevation Threshold: Snow is primarily accumulating above 9,500 to 10,000 feet, with snow levels dropping closer to 8,500 feet during peak overnight cooling.

  CBS News

• Expected Snow Totals: Widespread accumulation between 4 to 8 inches, with locally higher totals reaching up to 12 inches on peaks and high passes such as Wolf Creek Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, and Cameron Pass.

  9News

• Wind and Visibility: Gusts up to 35 mph across exposed ridgelines may create blowing snow and sharply reduced visibility.

  9News

Mountain Travel Impacts and Road Conditions

Widespread slush and ice are impacting high mountain passes, leading to difficult morning and evening commutes. Drivers along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor and regional passes should prepare for slick road surfaces and possible chain or traction law enforcement. Motorists are advised to check current road statuses via COtrip (call 511) before heading into the mountains.

Lower Elevations and Front Range Outlook

Lower valley locations and the Front Range metro corridorincluding Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collinsare largely seeing cold rain showers rather than snow. However, clearing skies and sharply falling temperatures behind the cold front will bring widespread frost and freeze conditions across mountain valleys and plains, signaling the end of the agricultural growing season in multiple regions.