Winter weather warnings for 5 states with snow, possible power outages

Winter weather advisories have been issued for five states, with heavy snow and gusty winds expected over the coming days.

As fall progresses and winter conditions begin to set in, several states will experience snow and gusty winds over the coming days as two systems brought in by an atmospheric river will hit the Pacific Northwest and then make their way down into the Mountain West states.

Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that carry water vapor inland from the Pacific Ocean. When atmospheric rivers make landfall, they typically release this water vapor as either rain or snow, depending on temperatures.

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Which states have weather warnings?

Five states, namely Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Utah, currently have active warnings in place.

Two National Weather Service (NWS) winter weather advisories are currently in place for Oregon. Snow is expected at elevations above 5000 ft throughout the morning Tuesday, specifically around Diamond Lake, Crescent Lake, Siskiyou Summit and Howard Prairie. Throughout the Northern and Central Oregon Cascades, about three to eight inches are expected, especially at higher elevations around Highway 35 near Bennett Pass, Timberline Highway on Mt Hood and near Santiam Pass along US20.

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Freezing temperatures overnight will cause “untreated surfaces to become icy and slippery”, making travel dangerous. “Have a winter emergency driving kit readily available,” advises the NWS, including “a flashlight, batteries, blankets, a shovel, water, nonperishable food and tire chains.”

In Washington, Concrete, Lyman and Hamilton are expected to be hit with 12 to 24 inches of snow Tuesday through Thursday, according to the NWS advisory. Travel along SR 20 and Washington Pass could be “very difficult,” with wind gusts of up to 40 mph also expected. Residents should be prepared for power outages, the forecaster said.

In Colorado, about five to 10 inches of snow is expected at higher elevations in Routt and Garfield counties around Columbine, Hahns Peak, Toponas, Buford and Trappers Lake. The NWS warns that conditions could make travel difficult, and wind gusts of up to 45 mph could bring down tree branches.

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Elsewhere, about four to eight inches of snow is expected to fall around the Sierra Madre Mountains in Wyoming from about 8 p.m. 2:00 PM MST this afternoon.

“Outdoor recreation can become dangerous for those caught unprepared for dangerous winter conditions,” the guidance reads. “Hunters, hikers and snowmobilers can become disoriented and lost due to poor visibility in falling and blowing snow.”

Utah’s Wasatch Mountains will also be affected by snow until 7pm tonight and commuting through mountain routes is expected to be challenging. Motorists are encouraged to slow down and use caution while traveling.