A wet winter storm is expected to dump up to 2 inches of snow in Cortez and up to 30 inches in the San Juan Mountains through Thursday.
The Pineapple Express, as it’s called, originated near the Hawaiian Islands and arrived Wednesday afternoon in Western Colorado, with a little guidance from the jet stream and an arctic cold blast, said Chris Cuoco, forecaster with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
“It happens once or twice a year,” he said. “It is one of the situations that always produces a great deal of snow for all the mountains of Colorado. No one’s really going to miss out on this. The mountains in Utah, the same thing – they’re going to get a boatload of snow.”
The most powerful part of the jet stream has been positioned over central Colorado for a couple of weeks, funneling clouds and snow flurries to Southwest Colorado, Cuoco said.
Will the Pineapple Express skip Cortez?
“Nope,” said Jim Andrus, a Cortez meteorologist. “In fact, the winter storm warning covers Cortez too.”
But first, the weather will have to turn cold.
According to Andrus, Cortez is on the southern edge of the storm, and until Thursday night, when the low temperatures falls to about 18 degrees, Cortez will likely see rain or wet snow. He expects about 2 inches of accumulated snow overnight Thursday.
It will be a different story north and northwest of Cortez and east of Mancos. Expect snow and ice near Dove Creek, heavy snow toward Lizard Head Pass and moderate snowfall along the U.S. 160 corridor east of Mancos.
Mountain passes including Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain, were expected to receive at least 15 inches of snow on U.S. Highway 550. Chain laws were in effect for all three passes, as well as Lizard Head Pass.
The Colorado Department of Transportation plans to close several passes for avalanche control operations on Thursday. CDOT plans to close U.S. 160 at Wolf Creek Pass from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. Crews will work on U.S. Highway 550, Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain passes from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The winter storm warning is in place until 5 a.m. Friday for areas above 6,500 feet in elevation.
“We’re expecting significant impacts traveling north of Durango, and trying to drive across Red Mountain Pass may not be possible for the duration of this storm,” Cuoco said. “It’s going to be a significant storm with heavy snow and blowing snow.”
The snow and strong winds raised the risk of avalanches and made travel difficult in the high country on Wednesday. The wind also shut down ski lifts in Steamboat Springs, denying people a chance to take advantage of the fresh powder.
Denver-based Frontier Airlines canceled about two dozen flights ahead of the storm.
The expected snow and frigid weather has also canceled a Denver tradition – Thursday’s annual parade of cowboys and cattle through downtown to kick off the 111th National Western Stock Show.
The Journal and Associated Press contributed to this report.