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Forecast calls for snow, icy road conditions for Steamboat Springs

Michael Schrantz
Steamboat Springs resident Mary Dobbin makes her way through the snow Monday on Lincoln Avenue.
John F. Russell

— The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory that will stay in effect until Tuesday morning.

The forecast calls for accumulation of snow during the day Monday and continuing into early Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

“This snow will be accompanied with very cold air and again periods of moderate to heavy snow are expected through Wednesday with significant accumulations,” Mike Weissbluth, of http://www.snowalarm.com, wrote in an email Monday.



The advisory Monday morning warns travelers that U.S. Highway 40 will be icy and snowpacked at times.

The advisory also calls for 8 to 14 inches of snow in the Steamboat area through Tuesday morning and 15 to 25 mph winds from the southwest with gusts as high as 40 mph.



A hazardous weather outlook for Northwest Colorado states that snow will affect travel on Interstate 70.

According to Weissbluth, snow could continue into the weekend.

“We will be susceptible to additional snow showers on Thursday and Friday in the continued moist and cold northwest flow before a more organized wave passes through on Saturday noticeably increasing snowfall rates,” he wrote.

“Light showers are expected after the Saturday wave through the rest of the weekend and beginning of the next work week before another strong storm passes over the area around Tuesday night creating more significant and badly needed accumulations.”

The snowfall Monday morning has increased the avalanche forecast for the Steamboat area and the Flat Tops to considerable after days of low danger warnings.

“Fresh storm and wind slabs are the avalanche problems for Monday,” the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website states. “Pay attention to signs of instability such as recent slide activity and cracks that propagate. The calendar says spring, but the Steamboat snowpack remains winter-like.”

The center issued a special statement for the Steamboat zone, warning that heavier snow Tuesday could increase avalanche danger.

“If Tuesday night’s snowfall materializes, then natural and human-triggered slides could become likely by Wednesday,” the website stated. “Stay tuned to weather forecasts. Watches and warnings will be issued as conditions warrant.”

To reach Michael Schrantz, call 970-871-4206 or email mschrantz@SteamboatToday.com


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