Steamboat Springs, Colorado – Drivers along U.S. Highway 40 have less than an hour to prepare as a fast-moving snow squall barrels across central Routt County, slashing visibility to under a quarter mile and creating sudden whiteout conditions before 6:45 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, a radar-indicated snow squall was located 10 miles east of Hayden at 5:55 a.m., moving east at 30 mph. The warning remains in effect until 6:45 a.m. for central Routt County, including Steamboat Springs, Milner and Tow Creek.
Wind gusts topping 50 mph are driving intense bursts of heavy snow, reducing visibility to near zero within seconds. Blowing snow is expected to sweep across U.S. Highway 40 between mile markers 112 and 139 and Colorado Highway 131 between mile markers 66 and 68. Overpasses and exposed stretches could ice over quickly during the morning commute.
The rapid drop in visibility and slick pavement can trigger chain-reaction crashes, especially on elevated roadways and open valleys. CDOT crews may struggle to keep pace if snowfall rates intensify during peak travel.
Motorists should slow down immediately, increase following distance and avoid sudden braking. If caught in a whiteout, reduce speed gradually and use low-beam headlights.
The snow squall will continue pushing east through 6:45 a.m., and additional short-fuse warnings remain possible as unstable bands move across northwest Colorado.
