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Independence Pass under winter storm warning Sunday into Monday night

Snow expected down to 8,000 feet by Monday morning

Staff reports
Winter driving conditions hit Independence Pass on Oct. 1, 2017. The Pass and the Elk Mountains are under a winter storm advisory through Monday, the National Weather Service said Sunday.
David Krause / The Aspen Times

A winter storm warning has been issued for areas including Independence Pass and Vail Pass starting at 3 p.m. Sunday and lasting into Monday night, the National Weather Service announced overnight.

The warning is for the Elk and Gore mountains above 9,000 feet as well as “central mountain valleys” in Colorado.

Snow is expected to start at about 10,000 feet on Sunday afternoon then drop to 8,000 by Monday morning, the weather service said in an update midday Sunday. The weather service also downgraded the snow amounts t  4 to 6 inches and expects the intensity to ‘increase in coverage and intensity (Sunday) afternoon and continue through Monday evening.”

Along with the snow, winds are expected from the southwest blowing 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. The NWS warns visibility could drop to less than a mile at times of heavy snow.

Other watches and warnings have been issued for the Colorado mountains for Sunday and Monday.

The heavy snow will make many roads impassable and may produce widespread power outages due to the weight of the snow on tree limbs and power lines, the NWS warned Sunday afternoon. Strong winds will lead to blowing snow, reduced visibility, and additional power outages.

Roads may become slushy, icy and snow-packed during the warning, and hazardous winter driving conditions are expected over the high-mountain passes.

A winter storm warning means significant amounts of snow are expected or occurring, according to the NWS, and strong winds and blowing snow are also possible.

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