Motorists in five states have been warned of difficult travel conditions as National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued a winter weather advisory.
Winter weather advisories have been issued for Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah as a late season winter storm will move through the area beginning on Monday.
In the contiguous United States, the storm system will affect Utah first, with snow beginning to accumulate on Monday morning. After Utah, the system will move north, hitting Colorado, Wyoming and Montana next. Another winter storm system is currently causing hazardous traffic conditions in Alaska.
Meteorologists urged motorists to exercise caution while driving in all impacted states, suggesting that drivers slow down during the storms.
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“Travel could be difficult. Areas of blowing snow could reduce visibility. Snowmobilers and hikers could become disoriented and lost,” the NWS office in Cheyenne, Wyoming, said in its winter weather advisory.
Utah will likely experience the heaviest snowfall from the system impacting the contiguous U.S.
“A storm system will bring significant accumulating snow to most Utah mountains Monday,” the NWS office in Salt Lake City posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Snow will begin early Monday morning, continuing throughout the day. This will result in some slushy or snow-covered roads, primarily above 6,500 to 7,500 feet.”
A storm system will bring significant accumulating snow to most Utah mountains Monday. Snow will begin early Monday morning, continuing throughout the day.This will result in some slushy or snow-covered roads, primarily above 6500 to 7500 feet. #utwx pic.twitter.com/0W0ddwDMjB
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) April 14, 2024
According to the forecast, Utah is expecting total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 15 inches in the Manti-Skyline, Tushars and Pavant ranges.
In Colorado, the storm is expected to hit Monday night and continue into Tuesday, bringing up to 10 inches of snow to the Pueblo region. Strong winds will accompany the snow, reaching up to 65 miles per hour.
“The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage,” the NWS office in Pueblo warned.
NWS meteorologist Bruno Rodriguez told Newsweek that since it is a late season storm, it could catch people off guard. He said in Colorado, heavy snow will impact the Front Range mountains along the Continental Divide, including Rocky Mountain National Park. He said Interstate 70, including the Eisenhower Tunnel, could be impacted by heavy snow on Monday evening through Tuesday morning.
Winter weather could begin around 3 p.m. local time in Wyoming on Monday afternoon and continue through Tuesday afternoon. In Montana, snowfall is expected to begin by Tuesday night and continue until noon local time on Wednesday.
A separate system is bringing myriad winter conditions to Alaska.
“Snow, freezing drizzle, and blowing snow with low visibility expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 4 inches,” the NWS office in Fairbanks warned. “Ice accumulation of 0.02 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph. Visibility 1 half mile or less at times possible.”
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.