Winter storm warning issued for Vail area; 15-30 inches in forecast

VAIL — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for much of the Central Mountains, including the Vail area.

The warning is in effect from 5 a.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Friday

The weather service is calling for 15 to 30 inches.

Read the full warning:

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
342 PM MST TUE JAN 3 2017

COZ010-017>019-040645-
/O.UPG.KGJT.WS.A.0001.170104T0700Z-170106T0700Z/
/O.EXB.KGJT.WS.W.0001.170104T1200Z-170106T1200Z/
GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-
UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE-
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
342 PM MST TUE JAN 3 2017

…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM WEDNESDAY TO 5 AM MST
FRIDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW…WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM WEDNESDAY TO 5 AM MST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM
WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE THE CITIES OF…ASPEN…VAIL…SNOWMASS…
RIDGWAY…GLADE PARK…TELLURIDE…OURAY…LAKE CITY…
SILVERTON…RICO…HESPERUS.

* TIMING…SNOW DEVELOPS LATE TONIGHT AND WILL CONTINUE OFF AND
ON THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES…
ESPECIALLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION…15 TO 30 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS
ON WEST FACING SLOPES.

* WINDS…WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS…SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE
VISIBILITY FOR TRAVELERS AND RECREATIONISTS. ROADWAYS WILL
BECOME ICY AND SNOWPACKED MAKING TRAVEL DIFFICULT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.