Today’s Forecast:
Snow falling over southern Colorado with stay mostly south of El Paso and Teller Counties in the morning, spreading into the Pikes Peak Region closer to and especially afternoon lunch. Pueblo south to Trinidad and east through the plains will see longer periods of moderate to heavy snow from the morning through the afternoon and overnight hours.
The heaviest snow today will fall over the Wet and Sangre De Cristo Mountains, as well as the surrounding valleys and towns. Snowfall will diminish late tonight and turn into light flurries by early Monday morning. A second push of light snow is possible in the mountains and Palmer Divide area Monday afternoon, but with little accumulation expected.
Because the jet stream energy fueling snow won't arrive till the afternoon, not much snowfall will show up in the Pikes Peak Region until closer to lunch time. Snow will become more widespread and heavy around and especially after lunch, continuing through the overnight hours. Snow totals will be highest in Colorado Springs generally south of Woodmen Road, and west of I-25. Teller County will see the heaviest snow in the south half of the county.
Wind gusts should stay under 20 mph today and tonight, limiting blowing snow concerns with this storm. Temperatures will stay in the 20s most of the day, falling into the teens and a few single digits in Teller County overnight.
Light snow or flurries will likely still be falling early Monday morning, meaning any early day travel will likely be slick and we could see school closures or at least two hour delays. A second round of light snow could arrive Monday afternoon, but with only an inch or two across the Palmer Divide.
Some of the heaviest snow in our region will fall from Pueblo out west to the Wet Mountains and Wet Mountain Valley. Snow started early in the Wet Mountains as well as Canon City and Pueblo due to up slope flow behind a cold front overnight, and will continue through lunch. Jet Stream energy will arrive this afternoon and continue to produce waves of moderate to heavy snow through the afternoon and overnight hours.
Winds will stay fairly light today with temperatures in the Pueblo and Canon City region staying in the 20s during the day, falling to the teens overnight. Temps over the Wet Mountains and out to Westcliffe will be in the low 20s and teens during the day, falling to the single digits tonight.
A few flurries may be left over by Monday morning, but we need to expect very slick and dangerous drives, especially in and around the mountain and valleys. A few snow showers with little to no accumulation are possible in the mountains Monday afternoon.
Periods of moderate to heavy snow will fall from the morning hours, through the afternoon, and well into the overnight hours, turning to light flurries by early Monday morning. Some of the heaviest snow will fall from the afternoon into the overnight hours, especially from Walsenburg out west through La Veta Pass and into La Veta and Cuchara. La Veta Pass could easily shut down at times today due to heavy snow and some gusty wind. I-25 from Pueblo south through Walsenburg and down to Trinidad will be very slick today, especially under the heavier bands of snow this afternoon and overnight.
Temperatures will stay in the 20s through the day across most of this region, with colder air expected out west into the mountain towns and passes. Wind gusts will generally stay at or below 20 mph, limiting blow snow concerns with this storm.
Flurries to light snow showers will be left over early Monday morning, with mostly dry skies expected through the rest of the day.
Extended Outlook:
Other than passing snow showers Monday afternoon that will bring limited accumulation to the region (mostly the Pikes Peak Region over Monument Hill, the Palmer Divide, and the Front Range), we'll be dry through the week. Sunny skies and highs above freezing will quickly melt snow over the next few days, with highs int eh 50s and a few 60s possibly by the weekend.
