In the ‘most likely’ snow forecast through Saturday evening, sections of I-70 get between six to 12 inches of snow, which – as any Coloradan knows – is enough to cause travel concerns, in itself. That being said, if the one-in-ten-chance ‘high end’ snowfall scenario takes place, major travel issues could be on the way for the many people headed to ski country for the holiday weekend.

If the National Weather Service forecasted ‘high-end’ snowfall scenario takes place, sections of I-70 could get up to 18 inches of snow, with much of the portion of this highway that travels through Colorado’s central mountain region getting around 12 inches of snow. At the least, this will mean slower travel times. At the most, drivers can expect possible closures, standstill-traffic, and extremely dangerous driving conditions.

This heavy snow will also be falling during a period when an arctic airmass starts to move into the state, causing temperatures to plummet. Single-digit and below-zero temperatures are expected in the high country throughout the weekend. This will make it crucial to bring safety gear for winter travel. Even though strandings aren’t that common, it’s important to be prepared in case that happens and one must spend a long period of time in their car waiting for traffic to start moving or for other assistance. Here’s a list of safety gear that OutThere Colorado has compiled for times like this. Pack these items into your trunk just in case they’re needed.

Meanwhile, the ‘high-end’ forecast shows that up to 24 inches of snow could fall on some peaks through Saturday evening in the area of Steamboat Springs. Expect travel over Rabbit Ears Pass to get dicey, too.

Follow along with the forecast and weather alerts on the National Weather Service website.