A late-season snowstorm warning has been issued for the Rocky Mountains, particularly affecting parts of Wyoming and Colorado. As Cinco de Mayo celebrations kick off, residents and travelers should brace for significant snowfall and hazardous travel conditions.
Forecasts predict snowfall totals ranging from 10 to 24 inches across the Front Range foothills and Rocky Mountain National Park. Travel could be very difficult to impossible at times, especially late Tuesday.
The National Weather Service reports that I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie may see between 8 to 16 inches of snow from Monday night through Wednesday noon. Meanwhile, a separate Winter Storm Warning covers Arlington and Elk Mountain along I-80, predicting an additional 5 to 10 inches.
Heavy snow is expected to create whiteout conditions with wind gusts up to 45 mph. Cheyenne could experience total snow accumulations of between 4 and 8 inches through Wednesday.
The storm will likely exit the area by Wednesday afternoon, bringing warmer conditions back on Thursday. However, the historic problem spot remains the stretch west of Rawlins toward Bitter Creek and the Continental Divide, where drift heights have reached four feet in past storms.
As the storm approaches, officials are urging caution for anyone planning to travel through these affected areas. The higher elevations could see more than 18 inches of snow in some locations.