Monday, December 9, 2013

You might go camping - Any time you head out on winter roads you might find yourself camping overnight in your car

Across the country, hundreds if not thousands, were stranded this weekend on roads due to snow, ice, fallen trees, downed powerlines and accidents. Some for minutes and others for more than a day. This would be a trying experience for anyone. On rural roads it might take a day for someone to drive by and see a car in a snow bank.

Be prepared in your car for a night of camping. Have enough for you and your regular passengers.

 

Keep this stuff in your vehicle throught he winter months:

Water and food, flashlight, signaling device like flares (the old school sticks are best in the winter since they can't freeze), extra blanket, handwarmers (work great in shoes for your toes), spare kid and baby stuff (diapers and powdered formula).

 

Some things we have no control over, but we do have control over how we drive. SLOW DOWN AND GIVE EXTRA ROOM! Don't make sudden moves on snow and ice. Slow ahead of curves. Unless it's an emergency don't brake through corners, do ease through with the throttle. Don't drive if you don't have to.

 

Other winter car tips: Don't weight the tail of a front wheel drive car since it will likely unload your drive wheels. On most vehicles, extra weight can help you get moving but makes braking and turning worse. Four wheel  and all wheel drive gets you moving and turning but does nothing to help you stop. Keep sand/gravel/kittylitter with you to put under tires to get you moving. Carry your own recovery strap, jumper cables and shovel, not every passer by will have these on hand to help.

 

Lastly, don't park your car in the roadway or in plow turn arounds. Parking in a roadway because you can't get in your driveway will likely get you plowed in (plowed snow is hard to shovel), potentially get your vehicle towed because you are blocking traffic, and you will likely block the plows from plowing the rest of the road past you leaving every other home or business past you stranded. In big storms this becomes a huge issue because plows can only keep up with a limited rate of snowfall and big graders are much fewer and slower. Blocked roads also mean longer responses for Fire, Medical and Law Enforcement.

 

 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

WINTER STORM WARNING for High Country and WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for Low Country activating soon

WINTER STORM WARNING for High Country starts this evening at 6PM with over a foot expected
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for Low Country starts 3AM with 2-5 inches expected
Strong winds expected to accompany snow tonight through Thursday
COLD temps follow on the heels of this storm

WWUS45 KGJT 032130
WSWGJT

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
230 PM MST TUE DEC 3 2013

..WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.THE STRONG COLD FRONT WAS STRETCHED OVER NORTHEAST UTAH AND NORTHWEST COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL PUNCH INTO THE INTERSTATE 70 CORRIDOR TOWARDS MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. TIMING IS DELAYED SOMEWHAT FROM EARLIER FORECASTS BUT THIS COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING WIDESPREAD SNOW TO EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. ONE TO TWO FEET OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH UP TO THREE FEET IN THE WEST CENTRAL COLORADO MOUNTAINS. THE VALLEYS COULD SEE UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW ESPECIALLY IN THE STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AREA AND THE INTERSTATE 70 CORRIDOR BETWEEN RIFLE AND VAIL. IN ADDITION...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP 20 DEGREES OR MORE BY THURSDAY AND STAY WELL BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE WEEKEND. STRONG WINDS AHEAD OF THE FRONT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY FOR TRAVELERS PASSING OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER STORM GO TO OUR WEB PAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GJT.


COZ017>019-UTZ028-040530-
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.W.0023.131204T0100Z-131205T0700Z/
UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE-
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RIDGWAY...GLADE PARK...OURAY...
TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS...
MONTICELLO AND VICINITY
230 PM MST TUE DEC 3 2013

..WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT MST WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

* TIMING...SNOWFALL WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THIS
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. SNOW WILL THEN CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY
EVENING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...8 TO 14 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL FALL OVER THE LA SAL
MOUNTAINS...AND THE NORTHERN UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH IS
EXPECTED AT EXPOSED LOCATIONS BECOMING NORTHWEST AND DIMINISHING
WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* VISIBILITY...MAY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN A MILE AT TIMES IN
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$

COZ022-040530-
/O.UPG.KGJT.WS.A.0016.131204T0100Z-131205T0100Z/
/O.EXB.KGJT.WW.Y.0043.131204T1000Z-131205T1600Z/
ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DURANGO...BAYFIELD...IGNACIO
230 PM MST TUE DEC 3 2013

..WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM MST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM MST THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING...EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...2 TO 5 INCHES WITH THE BEST ACCUMULATIONS
ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* WINDS...LOCAL SOUTHWEST TO WEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25
MPH TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* VISIBILITY...MAY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN A MILE AT TIMES IN
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

&&

$$

www.weather.gov/

Monday, December 2, 2013

WINTER STORM WATCH starting Tuesday Morning for #LaPlataCo mountains and starting Tuesday night for Durango

Arctic storm headed our way. Still looking for better confidence in snowfall amounts from this storm. We know that temps will drop considerably after Tuesday.

This is a good reminder to stock up your emergency supplies. You should have food/water/medications for at least 72hrs at home. Don't forget to keep food/water/flashlight/warmth in you car in case you are stranded.

WWUS45 KGJT 022230
WSWGJT

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
330 PM MST MON DEC 2 2013

..WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE REGION DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE WEEK...

.A STRONG WINTER STORM SYSTEM WITH ARCTIC ORIGINS IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE AREA TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. A COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL WORK INTO NORTHEAST UTAH AND NORTHWEST COLORADO LATE TONIGHT THEN DROP TO NEAR THE INTERSTATE
70 CORRIDOR BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON...THEN THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA ON WEDNESDAY. UPWARDS TO 3 FEET OF SNOW MAY BE POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH THE HEAVIEST ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED IN THE WEST CENTRAL COLORADO MOUNTAINS. THE VALLEYS COULD SEE UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW ESPECIALLY IN THE STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AREA AND THE INTERSTATE 70 CORRIDOR BETWEEN RIFLE AND VAIL. IN ADDITION...
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP 20 DEGREES OR MORE BY THURSDAY AND STAY WELL BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE WEEKEND. STRONG WINDS AHEAD OF THE FRONT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY FOR TRAVELERS PASSING OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES EARLY THIS WEEK.

FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER STORM GO TO OUR WEB PAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GJT.

COZ018-019-030630-
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.A.0016.131203T1300Z-131205T0700Z/
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...
SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS
330 PM MST MON DEC 2 2013

..WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

* TIMING...SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN TUESDAY MORNING...THEN
INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY WEDNESDAY. SNOW WILL THEN
LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...12 TO 24 INCHES IS POSSIBLE.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. SHIFTING
TO NORTHWEST WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE WEDNESDAY.

* VISIBILITY...MAY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN A MILE AT TIMES IN
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. LOCAL WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR OVER EXPOSED AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND/OR BLOWING SNOW THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

&&

$$


COZ011-014-020-022-023-030630-
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.A.0016.131204T0100Z-131205T0100Z/
CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN- UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY-PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER- ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CEDAREDGE...DELTA...HOTCHKISS...
MONTROSE...GUNNISON...CIMARRON...GATEWAY...NUCLA...DURANGO...
BAYFIELD...IGNACIO...PAGOSA SPRINGS AND VICINITY
330 PM MST MON DEC 2 2013

..WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

* TIMING...WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
POSSIBLE TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...4 TO 8 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE...POSSIBLY
APPROACHING 12 INCHES AT CERRO SUMMIT.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 30
MPH ON TUESDAY EVENING.

* VISIBILITY...MAY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN A MILE AT TIMES IN
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND/OR BLOWING SNOW THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

&&

$$






www.weather.gov/