Chance of precipitation is 60 percent now through Monday night. Today is expected to start off with rain, which should fade away by the afternoon. Snow is expected to replace the rain by midday, said Jerry Smith, National Weather Service forecaster in Grand Junction. Snowfall should intensify during the afternoon and evening. Currently, 1 to 3 inches of snow is in the forecast for the day, he said. The snow is expected to last through Monday.
The unsettled weather pattern that has brought storms across the West does not seem to be ending any time soon, Smith said. However, temperatures should warm up with 35 to 45 degrees today with lows in the 20s. Monday temperatures should linger around the mid 20s and 30s, he added.
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A winter storm warning, meaning significant amounts of snow, sleet and ice, is in effect for the area from noon today to midnight Monday, according to NWS.
In Gunnison, where an emergency big game feeding operation is underway because of severe winter conditions, forecasters predicted a 60 to 80 percent chance of snow beginning Sunday and intensifying through Monday. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches is possible for today, with that number increasing to 2 to 4 inches by night.
“That won’t have much of an effect (on the operation),” said Joe Lewandowski, Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman. “We’ve got the trails packed out and we’ve had a lot of people going over them, so 2 to 4 inches shouldn’t be a problem. It will probably help by warming the weather up a little.”
None of the southwest portions of U.S. Highway 550 have been closed as of press time Saturday. Colorado Dept. of Transportation does have restrictions in place for Coal Bank Pass and Molas Pass on U.S. Highway 550. Chains, snowtires or 4WD on all vehicles are required when driving through these areas. Conditions are icy with snowpack.
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