URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 635 AM MDT THU OCT 11 2012 ...POTENTIAL FOR THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY... .AN ENERGETIC PACIFIC LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT THEN LIFT THROUGH EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO LATE FRIDAY. STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL BRING DEEP MOISTURE INTO THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS EARLY FRIDAY. AT THAT TIME...SNOW LEVELS WILL BE AROUND 11000 FEET BUT ARE EXPECTED TO DROP AS THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. BY FRIDAY NIGHT...SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER TO AROUND 8000 FEET. THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS WILL THEN SEE SNOWFALL FRIDAY AFTERNOON THAT MAY CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THOSE AREAS. AT THIS TIME...SOME UNCERTAINTY REMAINS ON SNOW LEVELS AND ACCUMULATIONS. GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS- NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SKYWAY...CRESTED BUTTE...TAYLOR PARK... MARBLE...OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO... HESPERUS 635 AM MDT THU OCT 11 2012 ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... * TIMING...FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. * SNOW ACCUMULATION...4-8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. * SNOW LEVEL...INITIALLY AROUND 11000 FEET THEN LOWERING TO 8000 FEET. * WINDS...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH OVER HIGHER EXPOSED TERRAIN. WINDS SHIFT TO WEST FRIDAY AFTERNOON. * VISIBILITY...LOWERED AT TIMES IN SNOW SHOWERS. * IMPACTS...SLUSHY AND SNOW PACKED ROADS OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES MAY MAKE TRAVELING A CHALLENGE AT TIMES FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. HUNTERS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WINTER LIKE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND/OR BLOWING SNOW THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.