Update: Weekend storm forecast changes, calls for more snow in Aspen
Travel could be difficult Saturday into Sunday around Colorado mountains
Forecasts for a winter storm expected to hit western Colorado calls for snow and possible rain Saturday in Aspen before turning to snow overnight Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
Friday afternoon, the weather service updated its predictions and issued a winter storm watch for the northern and central mountains, which includes Aspen, Snowmass, Crested Butte and Vail. The watch begins at 6 p.m. Saturday and runs through Sunday. Updated predictions include total snow accumulations of “5 to 10 inches, with localized amounts up to 15 inches, are possible” with wind gusts up to 25 mph, the NWS said in the advistory.
A Pacific storm is expected to drop a foot of snow in northeast Utah starting late Friday night and through Saturday, then “will move through eastern Utah and into northwestern Colorado late tonight then move slowly southeast,” the weather service said Friday.
In Aspen, the NWS forecast calls for light snow early Saturday then possibly turning to rain Saturday afternoon with thunder possible when it warms up then back to snow into Sunday morning.
The San Juan Mountains and parts of southern Colorado, including Telluride, are under a winter advisory for up to a foot of snow.
Local forecasters at AspenWeather.net call for 4 to 7 inches of snow on the area resorts by Sunday morning, and an additional 2 to 4 inches during the day Sunday.