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Winter storm warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) span parts of four states across the U.S. as of early Thursday, as forecasters warn that many of these areas face “very difficult” travel and potential disruptions to commutes.
These alerts are issued by the agency when “a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent.”
Oregon and Washington
Holden Village, Stehekin, and Stevens Pass in Washington face additional snow accumulations between 1 and 7 inches, as well as wind gusts as high as 45 miles per hour, according to an alert for the area in effect until 4 p.m. PST as of reporting. The Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties, Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties, and Cascades of Southern King County could see between 4 and 10 inches, the agency said. The lower slopes of the Eastern Washington Cascades Crest could see up to 3 inches.
The south Washington Cascades and the northern and central Cascades of Oregon are expected to see accumulations between 4 and 9 inches, along with wind gusts up to 35 mph, according to the agency.
In Oregon, the Douglas County foothills, including Toketee Falls are expected to see between 1 and 3 inches of snow, according to a winter storm warning for the area in place until 10 a.m. PST. The southern Oregon Cascades and Siskiyou Mountains could receive up to 5 inches of snow.
Up to 9 inches of heavy snow and gusts up to 40 mph is forecast for the east slopes of the Oregon Cascades and the upper slopes of the eastern Washington Cascades Crest. The lower slopes of the eastern Washington Cascades crest could see up to 3 inches, according to the agency.
Up to 10 inches could hit the northern Blue Mountains of Oregon and the northwest Blue Mountains in Washington, the NWS said.
Colorado
The Wet Mountains are expected to see between 6 and 13 inches of heavy snow—with the heaviest totals forecast along the northeastern slopes—according to an alert for the area in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon to 5 p.m. MST Friday.
Eastern Las Animas, the Walsenburg and Trinidad vicinities, as well as the upper Huerfano River Basin and western Las Animas County below 7,500 feet could see between 4 and 7 inches of snow, according to the NWS.
Between 6 and 13 inches are expected for Teller County and the Rampart Range, a winter storm warning spanning from noon Thursday to 11 a.m. MST Friday said, while northern El Paso County could see between 5 and 8 inches of snow.
New Mexico
In New Mexico, Johnson and Bartlett Mesas, including Raton Pass and Union County may receive between 2 and 4 inches of snow, with 6 to 6 possible on Raton Pass, the NWS said in an alert in place from 2 a.m. to 8 p.m. MST Friday.
The state’s western mountains could see 2 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts of 6 to 12 inches above 8,000 feet. “Whitewater Baldy Peak in Catron County will receive higher amounts of 18 to 24 inches,” the NWS said.
“In terms of snowfall, there are a few key areas to watch through the rest of the week and into the weekend,” AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham told Newsweek on Thursday.
“Across the Four Corners region in the Southwest and across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Snow across the Four Corners will be largely welcomed by many residents as there has been quite the snow drought so far this season. Although beneficial, it can lead to tricky travel in spots, primarily through mountain passes and along Interstate 25 in central and southern Colorado.”
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