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By Aliss Higham
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Winter weather advisories have been issued for five states, with heavy snow and wind gusts expected throughout the coming days.
As fall passes and winter conditions begin to set in, several states will experience snow and wind gusts over the coming days as two systems brought in by an atmospheric river will hit the Pacific Northwest and then head 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 5000ft throughout the morning on Tuesday, specifically around Diamond Lake, Crescent Lake, Siskiyou Summit, and Howard Prairie. Throughout the Northern and Central Oregon Cascades, some three to eight inches is expected, particularly at higher elevations around Highway 35 near Bennett Pass, the Timberline Highway on Mt Hood and in the vicinity of Santiam Pass along US20.
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Freezing temperatures overnight will lead to "untreated surfaces becoming icy and slick," making travel dangerous. "Have a winter emergency driving kit readily available," the NWS advises, including "a flashlight, batteries, blankets, a shovel, water, non-perishable food items, and tire chains."
In Washington, Concrete, Lyman, and Hamilton are expected to be hit by 12 to 24 inches of snow from Tuesday through to Thursday, according to the NWS advisory. Travel along the SR 20 and Washington Pass could be "very difficult," with wind gusts of up to 40mph also expected. Residents should be prepared for power outages, the forecaster said.
In Colorado, some 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 45mph could bring down tree branches.
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Elsewhere, some four to eight inches of snow is expected to fall around the Sierra Madre mountain in Wyoming from around 2 p.m. MST this afternoon.
"Outdoor recreation could become dangerous to those caught unprepared for hazardous winter conditions," the advisory reads. "Hunters, hikers, and snowmobilers may become disoriented and lost due to low visibility in falling and blowing snow."
Utah's Wasatch Mountains will also be impacted by snow until 7 p.m. this evening, with commutes through mountain routes expected to be challenging. Motorists are urged to slow down and use caution while traveling.
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