A thin layer of slush-like snow coated some La Plata County roads Wednesday night, causing multiple accidents near the Forest Lakes subdivision and other parts of the county.

"We have lots of cars sliding off the road getting into accidents," a dispatcher with the Colorado State Patrol in Montrose said. "So far, just minor injuries. It seems pretty hairy down there. The roads don't seem to be very good."

A winter storm warning will be in effect until 6 p.m. today for the San Juan Mountains above 8,000 feet. A winter storm warning means forecasters expect significant amounts of snow, strong winds and travel to be dangerous or impossible.

As of Wednesday night, no area mountain passes had been closed.

"For this time of the year, it's a pretty strong storm system," said Mike Chamberlain, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction. "It's affecting most of the Western United States.

Snow accumulation was expected to stay above 8,000 feet, he said. "That doesn't mean there won't be snow that falls at a lower elevation, but it shouldn't impact travelers much and shouldn't be as deep."

A secondary system was expected to arrive tonight and hang around until Friday, Chamberlain said.

During the 24-hour period ending at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Durango received 0.28 of an inch of moisture, said Joe Creech, a volunteer weather observer for the National Weather Service.

Snow fell all day in Silverton, resulting in 3 to 4 inches of accumulation as of 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, said Blair Runion, manager at the Visitor Center. The snow didn't stick to sidewalks or the town's many dirt roads, she said.

"We are in the middle of mud season, so more precipitation just means more mud," Runion said. "But it is kind of nice to have snow - that's just my opinion."

Wolf Creek Ski Area was reporting 4 inches of new snow as of 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, said Kat MacKenzie, marketing assistant. The ski area had a midway snow depth of 128 inches. On Sunday, the resort will sponsor a Local Appreciation Day with $27 lift tickets.

La Plata County emergency officials kept a constant eye on the Missionary Ridge rockslide, which has been oozing mud and debris across East Animas Road (County Road 250) for about two weeks.

On Wednesday, local emergency workers and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Colorado Water Conservation Board evaluated the slide seeking a way to protect private property and keep the road open.

"There is a lot of activity within county government to address the legal aspects that we have to address to do certain work to mitigate problems with the slide, and also short-term monitoring of weather conditions," said Butch Knowlton, director of La Plata County's Office of Emergency Management.

The weather service is aware of the rockslide area and will notify Knowlton in the event of a heavy downpour, he said. That will allow deputies and Road and Bridge Department crews to warn residents and work to mitigate the affects.

"We do anticipate more activity on the slide with this precipitation," Knowlton said. "It's so hard to predict this thing. We think we have a prediction down firm, and then Mother Nature just does something totally different on us."

Patrick Meiering, owner of Zuke's, a local company that makes dog treats, is preparing for the worst when it comes to spring runoff.

Located just north of 22nd Street and Main Avenue, where Junction Creek approaches the Animas River, the business is susceptible to flooding if Junction Creek breaches its banks.

So Meiering paid to install a retaining wall made up of about 1,000 sandbags.

"I'd rather not react to a situation after it arises," he said.

But he added: "I wish I could focus more on selling dog treats."