A powerful Pacific storm is moving into Colorado. Snow will be most intense Thursday and taper off through mid-day Friday. Nearly all mountain ranges and ski areas will see 6 inches to 2 feet of snow.
Plan for heavy ski traffic and icy or snow-packed road conditions on Thursday and Friday. The weekend will bring cold temperatures and a blue sky.
Current winter alerts in Colorado in effect until Friday evening. #COwx pic.twitter.com/gCWPKmV9MW
— Alex O'Brien (@WXAlexOBrien) December 9, 2021
Snow forecast by region:
Front Range:
Indian peaks, Eisenhower Tunnel, Mount Evans, Winter Park can expect 4-10 inches through mid-day Friday. Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 5 pm Friday.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Cameron/Willow Creek Passes accumulations 10-20 inches. Winter Storm Warning in effect until 5 pm Friday.
Vail & Summit County:
Snow accumulations 4-10 inches with a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 5 pm Friday.
Steamboat & Flat Tops:
Steamboat Springs and Medicine Bow Range accumulations of 10 to 20 inches. Winter Storm Warning in effect until 5 pm Friday.
Flat Tops accumulations 8 to 16 inches. Winter Storms Warning until 6 pm Friday.
Sawatch Range:
Mosquito Range, Lake County, western Chaffee county can expect 4-10 inches through mid-day Friday. Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 5 pm Friday.
San Juan Range:
Snow accumulations 12-24 inches with the highest totals in the eastern San Juans. Winter Storm Warning in effect until 5 pm Friday.
Gunnison:
Snow accumulations 8-16 inches with Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 pm Friday.
Aspen:
Snow accumulations 8-16 inches with Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 pm Friday.
Grand Mesa:
Snow accumulations 8-16 inches with a Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 pm Friday.
An AVALANCHE WATCH is in effect through Saturday for the Steamboat and Flat Tops, Aspen, Gunnison, and San Juans.
Colorado Ski Area Opening Dates (subject to change):
| Arapahoe Basin | Open |
| Aspen Mountain | Open |
| Aspen Highlands | Dec. 11 |
| Buttermilk | Dec. 11 |
| Beaver Creek | Open |
| Breckenridge | Open |
| Cooper | Dec. 11 |
| Copper Mountain | Open |
| Crested Butte | Open |
| Echo Mountain | Tubing Open; Ski/Board TBD |
| Eldora | Open |
| Granby Ranch | Dec. 11 |
| Hesperus | Dec. 17 |
| Howelsen Hill | Open |
| Kendall Mountain | Dec. 17 |
| Keystone | Open |
| Loveland Ski Area | Open |
| Monarch Mountain | TBD |
| Powderhorn | Open |
| Purgatory | Open |
| Silverton | Dec. 30 |
| Snowmass | Open |
| Steamboat | Open |
| Sunlight | TBD |
| Telluride | Open |
| Vail | Open |
| Winter Park | Open |
| Wolf Creek | Open |
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