Marty’s Saturday Morning Forecast – More Wind, Some Snow – 2/16/19

Today: Our weather concerns today will be areas of low cloud cover and freezing fog over the plains this morning, winter driving conditions over the high country, gusty wind for many areas, spotty snow showers over our local mountain areas, and the potential for a quick burst of snow with a cold front that will move over the area this afternoon…

Low lying areas in eastern Colorado will have low clouds and patchy freezing fog and/or some very light snow early this morning. Until the low clouds and fog break up the air will remain cold with 20s to lower 30s for the plains. Scattered snow showers are possible over and near the mountains even as some areas are seeing some sun. Another cold front is approaching the area from the north this morning, and ahead of this cold front the low clouds and fog will drain away from the mountains and down the Arkansas River allowing for short period of sun and a gusty westerly wind to spread eastward from the mountains over the plains this morning through early this afternoon. During this time frame the air will warm into the 40s over the higher elevations along I-25 near the mountains and into the 50s along the Arkansas River to the east of Canon City with our local mountain communities remaining in the 30s to lower 40s through early afternoon. As the next cold front moves from north to south over the area this afternoon the wind will change directions becoming more northerly, and the air will get noticeably colder again. Except for those areas that are covered by a blanket of low clouds and fog this morning we expect gusty wind to be common today. During the morning hours the gusty wind should be confined to mainly sunny areas over and near the mountains, but as the sky clears over the plains the wind should become gusty for those areas as well. We expect wind gusts to between 20 and 40 mph to be pretty common with some stronger gusts possible over and near the mountains this morning. Northerly or northwesterly gusts over 40 mph may also occur mainly east of I-25 as the cold front races over the plains this afternoon.

There could be a little snow falling over parts of eastern Colorado this afternoon as well, and although widespread, accumulating snow seems unlikely for most of eastern Colorado today, there will be enough instability for spotty snow showers to continue over and near our local mountain areas at times, especially to the southwest of Pueblo. It is also possible that a quick burst of wind driven snow will accompany the cold front as it races south across the plains this afternoon. Snow along the cold front appears most likely around the Pikes Peak Region, and although snowfall accumulations would likely be pretty light we couldn’t rule out a quick burst of 1″ to 3″ of snow, and any snow that does fall would be accompanied by gusty wind and could reduce visibility and whiten roadways for a short time. This area of snow would likley race southeastward over the plains where a mixture of rain and snow could fall through early this evening. By the end of the day the air will be cooling into the 20s and 30s behind the cold front.

Tonight: Any areas of snow end quickly this evening but the wind will wind down a bit more gradually through the night. By morning we expect a mostly clear sky and chilly conditions with low temperatures in the teens for many areas, but the high mountain valleys will be colder.

Extended: Sunday should be cool and less windy for all areas with increasing clouds during the afternoon. Spotty snow showers may begin developing over our local mountain areas by very late in the day but the plains should remain dry. High temperatures look to reach the 30s and 40s for the plains with 20s and 30s over the mountains. Much colder air will settle over the area Sunday night into Monday bringing a good chance for snow to much of the area. Snow may decrease in coverage for some time on Monday, but a second wave may reinvigorate the snow late Monday into early Tuesday before the weather begins to clear again. While many areas may receive accumulating snow through early next week it does appear that southern parts of our coverage area will receive the heaviest snowfall from this system. We will be very chilly on Monday and Tuesday with high temperatures likely only in the teens and 20s so even light accumulations of snow are likely to whiten roadways and slow travel across the area. Wednesday should be mostly sunny and cool. The rest of the week looks to remain cool with periods of cloud cover, less wind and possibly some scattered snow showers over parts of the area.