Massive 'hazardous' winter storm to hit US and batter two states with 20 inches of snow

A massive winter storm heading towards two US states could severely impact travel later this week, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned on Tuesday.

The NWS issued two winter storm watches for heavy snowfall in mountain ranges in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, beginning on Wednesday and remaining in effect through Friday morning.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines said that those states can expect up to 20 inches of snow in some areas.

Kines said snow will begin to fall Wednesday night and continue through Thursday south of Denver in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and nearby areas.

The NWS office in Pueblo, Colorado, issued a watch for the eastern San Juan Mountains, the Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin, and the Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County.

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NWS Pueblo posted on X on Tuesday: “A new storm is expected to move across southern New Mexico and into Texas.

“Moisture will spread into Colorado with this system, bringing winter weather to portions of eastern Colorado, mainly near the border.”

Totals of 12 inches of snow could hit Colorado at higher elevations, and lower elevations can expect accumulations of two to six inches.

Heavy snow could fall south of Highway 50, making for potentially hazardous commutes along the southern I-25 corridor.

The NWS said: “Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.”

In New Mexico, NWS warned of storm watches for the Glorieta Mesa, including the Sangre De Cristo Mountains.

Total snow accumulation could reach 20 inches in New Mexico at high elevations, with lower elevations seeing four to 10 inches.

The NWS office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said: “Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Some roads may be closed. Significant travel delays are possible.

“This will include much of the Interstate 25 corridor within northeastern New Mexico from Glorieta to Las Vegas to the Raton Pass.”

The winter storm watch in Colorado and New Mexico comes after eight other states faced massive storms over the past weekend, where heavy rain, snow, and wind hit areas of New York, Vermont, Alaska, and more.

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