Storm Watch Upgraded to Winter Storm Warning by NWS

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
314 PM MST FRI FEB 20 2015

NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 8500 AND 11000 FT-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FEET-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT-
WET MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 6300 AND 10000 FT-
WET MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-LAMAR VICINITY/PROWERS COUNTY-
INCLUDING…LA VETA PASS…PONCHA PASS…BLANCA PEAK…CUCHARA…
STONEWALL…WESTON…SPANISH PEAKS…RYE…GREENHORN MTN…LAMAR
314 PM MST FRI FEB 20 2015

…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM SATURDAY TO 5 AM MST
MONDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM SATURDAY TO
5 AM MST MONDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* LOCATION…THE WET MOUNTAINS…SANGRE DE CRISTO
MOUNTAINS…SPANISH PEAKS REGION…AND PROWERS COUNTY.

* CAUSE AND TIMING…ABUNDANT MOISTURE ARRIVING WITH THE JET
  STREAM FROM THE WEST WILL COINCIDE WITH A STRONG COLD FRONT
  ARRIVING FROM THE NORTH THIS WEEKEND. THIS WILL RESULT IN A
  PROLONGED PERIOD OF MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY SNOWFALL
  OVER MUCH OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…FOR PROWERS COUNTY…8 TO 12 INCHES. FOR
THE SANGRES AND WET MOUNTAINS…ONE TO TWO FEET WITH LOCALLY
  HIGHER AMOUNTS ABOVE 10000 FEET.

* WIND…NORTHEAST TO EAST 10 TO 25 MPH.

* IMPACT…TRAVEL WILL BECOME PROGRESSIVELY MORE DIFFICULT AND
  HAZARDOUS THROUGH THE WEEKEND DUE TO ICY SNOW COVERED ROADS.
  AVALANCHE DANGER WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE HIGH
  COUNTRY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

STRONG WINDS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY ARE EXPECTED DUE TO HEAVY
SNOWFALL AND BLOWING SNOW.

AVOID TRAVEL IN THE WARNING AREA. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL
IN THE WARNING AREA DURING THE TIME OF THE WARNING…LISTEN TO
THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST AND CONSIDER TRAVELING AT ANOTHER
TIME OR BY ANOTHER ROUTE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL IN THE WARNING AREA
DURING THE TIME OF THE WARNING…TAKE ALONG A WINTER SURVIVAL
KIT. IF YOU BECOME STRANDED IN A RURAL AREA…STAY WITH YOUR
VEHICLE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES. TO KEEP WARM IN YOUR VEHICLE…RUN
YOUR ENGINE 10 MINUTES EACH HOUR…AND MAKE SURE THE EXHAUST PIPE
IS CLEAR OF SNOW TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.