Today’s Forecast:
A lot to cover in the forecast today across southern Colorado. Dense freezing fog has been creating travel headaches this morning in the Arkansas River Valley and in parts of the Pikes Peak Region. Plan on extra travel time this morning in the Pikes Peak Region and in the eastern U.S. 50 corridor - be especially careful over bridges and overpasses which tend to freeze first. Fog will reduce through the morning but low clouds will remain for much of the day in the Arkansas River Valley.
Meanwhile, in the southern tier, clear skies, downslope gusty winds, and dry air will lead to fire danger with a Red Flag Warning in place for Huerfano and E. Las Animas counties from 11AM - 4PM.
This evening, a cold front will approach from the northwest. This will be a blustery and strong arctic air front with wind gusts of 20-25 mph as it crosses your town. Wind gusts will be closer to 30-35 mph over the eastern plains and the Palmer Divide. A quick shot of snow will follow this front, with best snow potential over the central east plains. Snow totals will be relatively low with this system with 0-2" likely, particularly over the eastern plains counties where isolated 3" totals are possible. Parts of the eastern plains will also see some freezing drizzle - and winter weather advisories are in place for that concern.
Highs will be notably colder today than yesterday largely due to the lower amount of sunshine we'll see today between the fog and low clouds. Still, highs should end up relatively average in the low 40s along most of the southern Front Range. The exception will be in the southern tier, where downslope winds will lead to mild highs.
Early afternoon is likely a good time to work on taking down outdoor holiday decorations - but only if you can complete the project or get to a point where the remaining items are still secure, by 6:00 PM. Once the front arrives, it will be breezy, and with the potential for snow showers, you won't want to be spending a lot of time outside...even if you don't get much snow at your home.
Colorado Springs forecast: High: 43; Low: 18.
Fog early dissipating by lunchtime. Be careful over overpasses and bridges which could have pockets of black ice. After that, a period of sunshine until around 4:00pm when low clouds should increase again as a cold front approaches. The front should cross the region around 6:00 PM with gusty winds around 25 mph as it passes your neighborhood. A quick shot of snow will follow the front with low overall accumulations. However, with the wind gusts, visibilities may again be temporarily reduced during the late evening with any showers that we do see. Accumulations should range from a trace to 2".
Pueblo forecast: High: 40; Low: 19.
Fog, dissipating over the next couple of hours with low clouds remaining for much of the day. This will lead to chilly high temperatures in the upper 30s to near 40 degrees. A cold front will approach around 7:00 PM tonight. Behind it, a quick shot of light snow is possible, but accumulations will be minimal - and more of a factor for counties further east in the Arkansas River Valley. Upslope easterly winds at 5-10 mph, shifting north at 15-25 mph after the front passes.
Canon City forecast: High: 51; Low: 22.
Fog and low morning clouds will dissipate by around 12/12:30pm this afternoon. The clear skies are relatively short lived with high clouds returning by around 2:00 PM, but still an improvement over the morning conditions! A cold front will approach from the northwest, arriving around 5:00 PM. Brief snow showers are possible behind the front, with chances (30%) through 9:00 PM tonight. Overall snow impacts are low - but the front will bring notable breezes and a swift arctic cooldown. Skies should return to partly cloudy by around 3:00AM Sunday morning.
Woodland Park forecast: High: 43; Low: 12.
While very much the city above the clouds this morning, clouds will arrive during the afternoon for you ahead of an incoming cold front. Breezy today ahead of that front with west southwest winds of 10-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph at times. The front should arrive around 5:00 PM this evening bringing clouds, a northerly breeze, and a quick shot of snow with the best chances between 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM (50%).
Tri-Lakes forecast: High: 40s; Low: Teens.
Mostly clear skies this morning - a trend that should last all day. If you want to get in a hike or a bike ride today...this is the place to do it in. A cold front will arrive around 4:00PM this afternoon, bringing clouds, gusty winds, and snow showers as well as a rapid cool down - expect a 10 degree temperature drop within an hour of the front passing your home.
Plains forecast: High: 20s/30s; Low: Teens.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 11:00 AM SATURDAY - 8:00 AM SUNDAY
Very cold all day with temperatures struggling to climb out of the 20s. A blanket of low clouds, and easterly upslope winds are helping to trap a layer of dense cold air close to the ground, with warmer air just above it. This set up is called a "warm nose", and it will lead to freezing rain potential tonight. Earlier in the day, light freezing drizzle is possible, particularly in Prowers and Kiowa counties where a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 11:00AM today - 8:00AM Sunday. A cold front will approach from the north at around 8:00PM, with snow showers behind it. You can expect a trace to 2" of snow across the eastern plains tonight.
Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: High: 54/58; Low: 20/19.
FIRE WEATHER WARNING from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunny skies, and strong downslope breezes will lead to high fire danger today. Avoid outdoor burning. A cold front will arrive between 6:00 PM and 7:00PM. When it arrives, clouds increase, fire potential goes down, and snow showers will be possible, generally in the 7:00PM-10:00PM time frame, with a 40% chance. Accumulations will be light given the short duration of any potential snow.
Mountains forecast: High: 40s; Low: Teens.
Sunny to start, cloudy to end, with gusty winds all day on west and east facing slopes. At high elevations, gusts will be stronger on west slopes. At low elevations, they'll be higher on east slopes due to downsloping. A cold front will bring snow chances to the mountains this evening.
Extended outlook forecast:
An active pattern sticks around for most of next week. Sunday will be cold - all day - following tonight's cold front with highs in the low 30s at best. Monday is a "break" day with near normal highs in the 40s. This is a good day for outdoor decoration removal if you're still working on it. Areas of freezing fog are likely Monday night. Tuesday will be cold with highs in the upper 20s as another cold front arrives. Snow showers will occur region wide with this system with Tuesday morning looking like the biggest impact period - I expect at least 2" of snow in the Pikes Peak Region, stay tuned for further updates on that system. Combined - Tuesday is very cold, with snow showers. As our upper level pattern remains unsettled, we stay cold with highs in the mid 30s to upper 30s through the rest of the week. There's a low chance for another storm on Thursday, but details are murky at the moment.
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