A moderately strong Pacific storm will move through eastern Utah and Western Colorado on Wednesday evening through Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

Snowfall will begin in northeast Utah on Wednesday and move east and south, reaching northwest and central Colorado overnight. Precipitation will spread to Southwest Colorado on Thursday morning and continue into the evening, the weather service said on Tuesday.

Coloradans should be prepared for an abrupt change from mild and dry conditions on Wednesday to winter weather and traffic hazards on Wednesday night and Thursday.

A winter weather advisory is in effect in Southwest Colorado from 2 a.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday.

The heaviest snowfall is expected over most areas between about 4 a.m. and noon Thursday.

The National Weather Service said 5-11 inches are expected in the La Sal and Abajo mountains of southeast Utah and the western San Juans in Colorado. Two to 4 inches of snow is expected Thursday in the valleys of Southwest Colorado.

In Montezuma County, the National Weather Service said there’s a 60 percent chance of snow showers on Wednesday night, mainly after 11 p.m. The overnight low is expected to be about 25 degrees.

On Thursday, there’s an 80 percent chance of snow showers on Thursday morning, and a 30 percent chance of snow showers in the evening. The high temperature on Thursday is expected to be near 32, with an overnight low of 14.

Sunny skies are expected Friday through Sunday, with a highs around 35 degrees and lows ranging from 18 degrees on Friday to 11 on Saturday.