Storm to bring blustery conditions, brief snow to Rockies

A brief but expansive snow event is in store for the Rockies into Thursday night.

The week started sunny and warm throughout the West.

Strong winds in the northern Rockies marked the approach of a wintry system at midweek.

“A storm system will dive southward and provide blustery conditions, along with a quick period of snowfall across much of the northern Rockies and Front Range,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio.

After blowing through the interior Northwest on Wednesday night, this system will continue southward along the spine of the Rocky Mountains.

Ski resorts from Montana’s Big Sky to Colorado’s Breckenridge and New Mexico’s Sipapu Ski Area will receive some welcome snowfall. All three locations are preparing to open for the season in November.

Accumulations are not expected to be especially heavy.

As the system tracks through Wyoming and Colorado and into New Mexico by Thursday night, a few hubs could have a taste of winter.

Residents of Casper and Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Fort Collins and Boulder, Colorado, may receive a couple inches of snow before Halloween weekend rolls around.

Little or no accumulation is likely in Denver, but the hills to the immediate west can be whitened. Much like the rest of the Rockies, the city will experience a dramatic temperature drop.

Where the snow falls, melts and freezes on untreated surfaces, icy conditions may develop with little notice. Motorists should use caution, especially in the mountains.

Rossio pointed out that this storm will continue to pack a punch even after the Rockies snow has ended. The same storm will help produce moderate to heavy snow over part of the Upper Midwest into the end of the week.

“Gusty winds and chilly conditions will follow this disturbance across much of the northern High Plains,” he said. “Winds will likely gust to 60 mph in some areas behind this disturbance.”

It will be important for residents to make sure loose outdoor items are secured. Localized damage, and perhaps some power outages, are possible in strong wind events.

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