Marty’s Saturday Morning Forecast – Wind & Snow Soon – 1/20/18
Today: Increasing clouds and wind through the day today with some areas on the higher terrain experiencing wind gusts that may occasionally exceed 30 mph. Not quite as warm, but still well above seasonal averages with high temperatures in the 50s and 60s along I-25, lower 70s for the far southeastern plains, mainly 40s and 50s over the mountains.
Tonight: We’ll remain pretty mild, and windy at times through midnight. Snow will increase in coverage and intensity over the Continental Divide, with winter driving conditions becoming likely over most of the major mountain passes. After midnight we should turn sharply colder with low clouds sliding up against the mountains late. The first snow showers may be developing over the Pikes Peak Region around daybreak. Low temperatures in the 20s to lower 30s for most areas, some mountain areas in the Pikes Peak Region may fall back into the teens. Over the high country we do expect snow to become widespread and heavy at times with winter driving conditions likely developing…
Extended: We expect a burst of wind driven snow to move quickly from northwest to southeast across the area on Sunday. Snow may linger for a longer period of time on the terrain favored areas around Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Colder and very windy at times area wide Sunday afternoon. The combination of snow and wind could cause periodic whiteout conditions over parts of eastern Colorado, with the worst driving conditions likely over the northern half of the state. Snowfall accumulations will be somewhat limited by the quick movement of the storm, but for several hours travel will probably be very difficult over some areas…
The National Weather Service has issued a host of winter weather advisories and warnings. The heaviest snow locally should fall from mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Sunday. The worst travel in our area will likely exist over the Palmer Divide where a combination of snow and strong wind gusts over 40 mph could cause periodic whiteout conditions. Snowfall accumulations in this area could reach as high as 3″- 6″, but measuring the snow will probably be difficult with the wind blowing it around so much. Snow will also accumulate over Teller County where communities to the north of Pikes Peak might see about 2″- 4″ of snow. Travel over the mountains in the Pikes Peak Region will probably be slowed by snow packed roadways, but the wind shouldn’t result in as much blowing snow over this area as compared to exposed areas over the Palmer Divide.
Snowfall should be light for Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Canon City, generally an inch or less, but we still expect a short burst of snow, and with strong wind gusts and quickly falling temperatures, even light snowfall accumulations could to lead to slick travel conditions at times on Sunday. We expect several inches of snow may also accumulate over the mountains southwest of Pueblo, and an inch or 2″ could fall over the southern I-25 corridor as well. Accumulations of snow will probably remain pretty light over the far eastern plains with most areas receiving an inch or 2″, but wind gusts over 40 mph will blow even light accumulations of snow around enough to make for hazardous travel conditions at times through Sunday afternoon. Some pockets of heavier snow may fall just south of the Arkansas River, or right near the Kansas State line, in these pockets we could expect as much as 2″- 4″ of snow.
The snow should wind down for all areas early Sunday night. Monday morning will be chilly, but sunny, and for some areas leftover slick roadways are likely. Temperatures should hover near to slightly below seasonal averages through about Wednesday. Thursday should be warmer with more wind, and possibly some thick mountain wave clouds. Friday may start out mild, but the afternoon looks windy and colder with a chance for some snow again by late Friday or Friday night.
