URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 921 AM MDT THU OCT 11 2012 EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- INCLUDING...INDEPENDENCE PASS...MT ELBERT...MT MASSIVE 921 AM MDT THU OCT 11 2012 ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT... A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. * LOCATION...THE EASTERN SAWATCH RANGE ABOVE 11000 FEET. * CAUSE AND TIMING...A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL SPREAD SNOW ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH SNOW POSSIBLY BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. INITIALLY SNOW LEVELS WILL START OUT AROUND 12000 FEET FRIDAY MORNING BEFORE DROPPING TO DOWN TO THE PASS LEVEL BY AFTERNOON. * SNOW ACCUMULATION...SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH AMOUNTS GENERALLY RANGING FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES. * WIND...SOUTHWEST TO WEST AT 15 TO 30 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 45 MPH ACROSS THE HIGHER PEAKS. * IMPACT...SLUSHY AND SNOW PACKED ROADS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES...ESPECIALLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. HUNTERS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ABRUPT WINTER LIKE CONDITIONS TO MOVE INTO THE AREA ON FRIDAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP. WINTER STORMS MAY HAVE STRONG WINDS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL AND BLOWING SNOW. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF OVER 6 INCHES ACROSS THE PLAINS AND HIGH VALLEYS OR OVER 8 INCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS MAY OCCUR. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL IN THE WATCH AREA DURING THE TIME OF THE WATCH...LISTEN TO THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST AND CONSIDER TRAVELING AT ANOTHER TIME OR BY ANOTHER ROUTE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL IN OR THROUGH THE WATCH AREA DURING THE TIME OF THE WATCH...TAKE ALONG A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT.