GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) – Tuesday and Wednesday are First Alert Weather Days for the mountains. Heavy snow is likely to disrupt travel through the mountains between the Western Slope and the Front Range. We aren’t likely to get snow here on the Western Slope, but we can get some rain.

Weather Alert: Winter Weather Advisory for the Mountains

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 6 PM Tuesday until noon Wednesday for the Elk Mountains, the Gore Mountains, the Sawatch Mountains, the Elkhead Mountains, and the Park Mountains. Snowfall amounts of 4-8 inches are expected in these areas west of the Continental Divide. Wind gusts up to 35 mph can blow the snow and reduce visibility to less than a quarter mile at times.

Weather Alert: Winter Storm Warning for the Continental Divide

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from noon Tuesday until 3 PM Wednesday for areas along and on either side of the Continental Divide from around I-70 north. Snowfall amounts of 6-18 inches are expected. Snow packed, icy roads and poor visibility can disrupt travel. Snowfall amounts of 3-8 inches are expected around Metro Denver, even east of the mountains.

Tracking Snow Over the High Country

Snow will begin increasing from north to south in the High Country and along the Front Range Urban Corridor between about 10 AM and noon. It will build south along the Front Range through Tuesday evening and then expand over the High Country between midnight Tuesday night and 6 AM Wednesday. Snow will begin breaking up from northwest to southeast between 6 AM and noon Wednesday, then over the eastern mountains and the Plains from noon through 6 PM.

Impact On the Western Slope

Snow can fall over our mountains, but we’re more likely to get some rain in the valleys here on the Western Slope. The rain appears to be most likely from midnight Tuesday night through about 8 AM Wednesday, though we won’t all get rain for that entire time.

Tuesday’s Forecast

Tuesday will be partly cloudy with increase clouds late in the day. We’ll warm mid-to-upper 40s at 6 AM to low-to-mid 60s at noon, then to mid-to-upper 60s at 4 PM. Snow will increase on the mountains with rain in the valleys becoming likely overnight. High temperatures in the afternoon will be near 69 degrees around Grand Junction, 65 degrees around Montrose, 69 degrees around Delta, 64 degrees around Cortez, and 72 degrees around Moab. Low temperatures in the morning will be near 47 degrees around Grand Junction, 44 degrees around Montrose, 45 degrees around Delta, 38 degrees around Cortez, and 49 degrees around Moab.