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Powder in Aspen’s forecast

Wyatt Haupt Jr.
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN ” A winter storm that pounded the West Coast the past couple of days should make its way Tuesday into the mountains surrounding Aspen and Snowmass Village, potentially bringing 8 to 16 inches of fresh powder.

“Heavy snow at times,” said Aldis Strautins, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.

As a result, a winter storm warning is in effect for the region through 6 p.m. Wednesday.



The storm could also bring with it strong winds gusting from 25 to 35 mph, particularly on the passes and ridges on Tuesday.

The storm could produce snowfall accumulations of 8 inches in downtown Aspen, with an estimated 3 to 7 inches possible Tuesday, according to the weather service. It appears to be a much stronger storm than last weekend’s system, which produced about an inch of snow.




“That storm fell apart as it came toward us,” Strautins said.

Temperatures Tuesday should range from daytime highs of 30 to 32 degrees to lows in the neighborhood of 15 to 20.

The potential for snow is forecast to diminish Wednesday with a 20 percent chance, the weather service said. The daytime high Wednesday is forecast at 27 degrees, with a low of about 9.

A strong westerly wind is estimated to produce gusts of up to 30 mph.

In the past week the Aspen Skiing Co. reported that Snowmass received about 10 inches of snow; Aspen Mountain was blanketed with 11 inches. Aspen Highlands received roughly 12 inches in the same period, and 8 inches fell at Buttermilk.

whaupt@aspentimes.com