While much of the country is already feeling the heat of early summer, two states are about to get a serious blast of winter weather. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Colorado and Wyoming, where a powerful snowstorm is expected to drop between 10 and 20 inches of snow in some areas.
The warning, issued Monday, highlights the risk of difficult travel conditions, especially during the Monday morning commute. “Heavy snow expected,” the advisory states. “Travel will be difficult. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute.”
Residents in these states are urged to take the storm seriously. The National Weather Service recommends carrying emergency supplies like a flashlight, extra food, and water if travel is unavoidable. For detailed snowfall forecasts, including high and low-end estimates, officials point to the official NWS winter weather page at weather.gov/riw/winter.
This winter storm is part of a broader pattern of severe weather across the U.S., which has also included heavy snow and record cold slamming the Rockies. The storm comes on the heels of other weather warnings, such as gusts up to 55 mph affecting six states and tornado watches for four states.
How to Stay Safe During the Snowstorm
If you live in the affected areas, the best advice is to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. But if you must go out, here are some key tips for driving in snow and ice:
- Drive slowly — reduce your speed to match the lower traction on snow or ice.
- Accelerate and decelerate gently — take it easy on the gas and brake to avoid skids.
- Increase following distance — allow five to six seconds of space between you and the car ahead.
- Know your brakes — apply steady, firm pressure. If you have antilock brakes, don’t pump them.
- Don’t stop if you can avoid it — rolling through a light is safer than stopping and trying to get moving again on ice.
- Avoid powering up hills — build momentum before the hill and let it carry you up; then descend slowly.
- Never stop going up a hill — it’s extremely hard to start again on an icy incline.
For the latest updates on this winter storm and other weather events, check the National Weather Service website and local news. Stay safe out there.
