Up to 17 inches of snow is set to hit several states across the U.S. from Tuesday through to Thursday, prompting the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue multiple winter storm warnings and advise travelers to “drive with extreme caution” or even consider delaying all travel.
Why It Matters
Winter storms often bring heavy snowfall, ice accumulations, and high winds, which can reduce visibility and make roads slippery—sometimes impassable—creating difficult and dangerous travel conditions, especially during busy travel periods such as the morning and evening commutes.
What To Know
NWS winter storm warnings are in place for many areas across the United States. The worst-affected states include Maine, New Hampshire, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and New Mexico.
Maine and New Hampshire
Parts of south central, southwest, and western Maine, and central, northern, and southern New Hampshire could get between 6 and 9 inches of snow by early Wednesday morning.
Colorado
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado should brace themselves for up to 17 inches of snow from Wednesday morning until Thursday morning, making travel “very difficult to impossible.”
Larimer County, particularly Fort Collins, could get between 2 and 4 inches until Wednesday afternoon, and Boulder and Denver metro areas, Castle Rock, and the Palmer Divide up to 6 inches, with 8 inches of snow expected at the base of the foothills, until Wednesday evening.
The southern Front Range Foothills could get anywhere between 5 and 11 inches of snow by Wednesday night, the northern Front Range Foothills up to 8 inches, and South Park up to 6 inches.
In southern Colorado, the Wet Mountains, Wet Mountain Valley, Walsenburg Vicinity, the Upper Huerfano River Basin (below 7,500 feet), Trinidad Vicinity, and western Las Animas County (below 7,500 feet) could see up to 10 inches from Wednesday morning until Thursday.
The La Garita Mountains (above 10,000 feet), the eastern San Juan Mountains (above 10,000 ft), the Upper Rio Grande Valley, and the eastern San Juan Mountains (below 10,000 feet) in south-central Colorado could get between 3 and 9 inches of snow by Thursday morning.
Parts of Fremont County could see between 3 and 9 inches by Wednesday night, and the San Luis Valley could get up to 5 inches, also by Thursday morning.
Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota
Areas in Montana and Wyoming—particularly the northern and northeastern Bighorn Mountains—could see up to 3 inches of accumulated snow until Wednesday morning, coupled with 35 mph winds, which may cause blowing snow, reducing visibility.
In Montana, specifically, snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches are expected for most mountain passes, but 5 to 8 inches might fall over Kings Hill Pass until Wednesday morning—the NWS for Montana has warned that travel could be difficult, especially over Highway 14 through Burgess Junction.
The Wyoming Black Hills and South Dakota northern Black Hills could see up to 5 inches of snow by Wednesday morning.
Alaska
Eastern Norton Sound and the Nulato Hills, south of Shaktoolik, in Alaska, can expect up to 2 inches of snow, and the Middle Yukon Valley up to 4 inches, with both areas likely to get 40 mph wind gusts until Wednesday afternoon.
The eastern Alaska Range—south of Trims Camp—and the southern Denali Borough could get up to 5 inches of snow and 45 mph winds until Wednesday, and the summits across the Dalton Highway, the Yukon Uplands, White Mountains, south of the Yukon River, and the Yukon Flats could get up to 4 inches.
New Mexico
In New Mexico, mountain ranges and passes, including the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Tusas Mountains (including Chama), the Glorieta Mesa (including the Glorieta pass), Upper Rio Grande Valley, Johnson and Bartlett Mesas (including Raton pass), and the northeast Highlands could get up to 8 inches, above 7,500 feet—with up to 10 inches expected on the highest peaks across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, by Thursday morning.
What People Are Saying
The NWS for Maine issued the following advice for those in affected areas: “Persons should delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility. Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order.
It also warned travelers: “A snowstorm will bring plowable snow to the region with a period of moderate travel impacts expected. Periods of moderate snow and low visibility will be the biggest hazards. Periods of moderate and heavy snow will combine with low visibility to create dangerous driving conditions. Hazardous road conditions could linger into the Wednesday morning commute even after snow has ended.”
What Happens Next
Residents and travelers in affected areas are advised to closely monitor local weather forecasts for the latest updates on the winter storm conditions.
