The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued weather alerts for four states over the weekend, including California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
The mountains of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties are expected to see snowfall above 5,500 feet, with snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches between 5,500 and 7,000 feet and 4 to 6 inches above 7,00 feet. Snow showers are expected for Saturday, but this will continue falling, with some breaks, on Sunday.
The weather warning in the area will stay in place until Sunday 8 a.m. local time. Until then, travelers are urged to avoid being on the road or, if they can’t avoid it, to keep an extra flashlight, food and water in the vehicle in case of an emergency.
Colorado’s Upper Rio Grande Valley and Eastern San Juan Mountains below 1,000 feet are under a winter weather warning until noon MDT on Saturday, as the NWS warns that heavy snow with accumulations of 4 to 9 inches will cause slippery road conditions.
La Sal and Abajo Mountains in the state will stay until a weather warning until midnight MDT on Saturday, as heavy wet snow is expected to fall above 7,000 feet. Residents and travelers in the Southwest San Juan Mountains should try to keep off the road as driving would be made difficult by snow accumulation up to 12 inches. “Slow down and use caution while traveling,” the NWS wrote.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
In New Mexico, the Jemez Mountains and Tusas Mountains Including Chama, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and Johnson and Bartlett Mesas including Raton Pass and the West Central Mountains are under a winter storm warning until midnight MDT on Sunday night.
In the Jemez Mountains and Tusas Mountains, “travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the NWS writes. “Some roads may be closed. Significant travel delays are possible.” The same is true for Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and Johnson and Bartlett Mesas, where some roads may be closed. There will likely be delays on the I-25 through Raton Pass.
Travelers driving through the West Central Mountains should “plan on snow packed or icy road conditions,” the weather agency wrote, including portions of I-40 near the Continental Divide.
Parts of Utah—Bryce Canyon Country, Capitol Reef National Park, Central Mountains and Southern Mountains—are under a winter storm warning until 6 p.n. MDT on Saturday evening. Travelers can expect “winter driving conditions” on most mountain routes in these areas.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.