With daylight saving time ending today, drivers should watch for drowsiness as heavy mountain snow threatens to complicate Sunday travel and Monday commutes across the West. The National Weather Service’s November 1 warning forecasts 12–18 inches above 10,000 feet in Colorado’s northwest and southwest San Juan Mountains through noon MST Monday, with gusts reaching 45 mph.
The warning includes Red Mountain, Molas, Coal Bank, and Lizard Head passes. Farther west, Nevada forecasters identify Secret and Harrison passes as trouble spots Sunday. These are forecast accumulations, not measured totals—and the elevation limits matter when planning a route.
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Colorado’s Highest Routes Face Overnight Trouble
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute,” the NWS warns for the western San Juans.
A separate eastern San Juan warning, including Wolf Creek and Cumbres passes, runs from 5 p.m. Sunday through 11 a.m. MST Monday. It forecasts 8–14 inches and gusts reaching 50 mph.
The overlap makes Sunday night into Monday morning a particularly important window for drivers crossing southern Colorado. Forecast amounts apply to the warned mountain zones, rather than every nearby town or mile of pavement.
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Nevada’s Warning Names Specific Roads
The NWS Elko warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. PST Sunday, forecasting 12–16 inches above 7,500 feet and 8–12 inches between 6,500 and 7,500 feet.
“Snow covered roads are expected on State Route 229 through Secret Pass, up into Lamoille Canyon, and across Harrison Pass,” forecasters state.
Those named corridors offer a more useful planning guide than a statewide snowfall headline. Check the forecast map for the actual crossing before committing to mountain travel.
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Elevation Changes the Forecast
“While most of the precipitation is expected to be rain, heavy mountain snow is likely, especially above 9000 ft,” the Weather Prediction Center explains.
In Wyoming, the NWS Riverton advisory adds: “Heaviest period of snow occurs between 11 AM and 11 PM MST Sunday. South Pass snow totals up to 4 inches.”
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