Winter weather warnings for 5 states with snow and possible power outages

Winter weather warnings have been issued for five states, with heavy snow and gusty winds expected in the coming days.

As fall rolls around and winter conditions set in, several states will experience snow and wind gusts in the coming days as two atmospheric river-driven systems hit the Pacific Northwest and then move 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 hit land, they usually release this water vapor as rain or snow, depending on the temperature.

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Which states have weather warnings?

Five states, namely Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Utah, currently have active warnings in effect.

Two National Weather Service (NWS) winter weather advisories are currently in effect for Oregon. Snow is expected Tuesday at elevations above 5,000 feet, particularly around Diamond Lake, Crescent Lake, Siskiyou Summit and Howard Prairie. About three to eight inches is expected in the northern and central Oregon Cascades, particularly at higher elevations around Highway 35 near Bennett Pass, the Timberline Highway at Mt. Hood and near Santiam Pass along US20.

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Freezing temperatures overnight cause “untreated surfaces to become icy and slippery,” making travel dangerous. “Have emergency winter supplies on hand,” the NWS advises, including “a flashlight, batteries, blankets, a shovel, water, non-perishable food and tire chains.”

Washington, Concrete, Lyman and Hamilton are expected to receive 12 to 24 inches of snow Tuesday through Thursday, according to the NWS release. Travel along SR 20 and Washington Pass could be “very difficult” as wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour are also expected. Residents should be prepared for power outages, the forecaster said.

In Colorado, about 5 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 45 miles per hour could down tree branches.

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Elsewhere, about 10 to 20 cm of snow is expected to fall around the Sierra Madre mountain in Wyoming around 2 p.m. MST this afternoon.

“Outdoor recreational activities could become dangerous for those unprepared for dangerous winter conditions,” the warning said. “Hunters, hikers and snowmobilers can become disoriented and lost due to poor visibility in falling and drifting snow.”

It will also snow in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains until 7:00 tonight, so commuting over mountain routes is expected to be challenging. Motorists are asked to slow down and exercise caution when driving.