Marty’s Saturday Morning Forecast – Snow Is On The Way – 3/2/19
Today: The shallow layer of cold air that settled in overnight will produce areas of low cloud cover, patchy freezing fog or freezing drizzle and possibly some very light snow over low lying areas east of the mountains this morning. We don’t expect significant accumulations of snow or ice this morning, but scattered slick spots are possible. Some of our higher mountain communities will see some sun to start the day. All areas will be colder today with some breaks in the clouds likely for more areas for a short period of time later this morning through early this afternoon. High temperatures are only expected to reach the 30s for most areas on the plains, and near the Kansas state line the air may struggle to warm out of the 20s. A few areas near the mountains, particularly to the southwest of Pueblo, may warm into the 40s today and most of our local mountain communities should expect high temperatures in the 30s to lower 40s. A chilly breeze of 10 to 20 mph with some gusts around 25 mph should help to put a bite into the air for many areas today.
By early afternoon a deeper layer of colder air will be moving over the area from the north. At the same time an upper level wave will be approaching us from the southwest. Snow will begin to increase in coverage and intensity over the high country as this wave approaches and the clouds will begin to fill any blue sky locally. As the upper level wave interacts with the deeper layer of cold air we expect snow to develop quickly over and near the mountains by mid to late afternoon and spread southeast with most areas likely to receive accumulating snow over about a six to nine hour period. Snow may be falling pretty heavily over some areas as we approach sunset. Initially the snow may be pretty wet for some areas, but as the colder air continues to settle southward we expect the snow to become increasingly light and airy. Expect slick travel to become more common for many areas this evening.
Tonight: We will have some wind, but we do not expect very strong wind gusts to accompany this snow so while some blowing and drifting snow could occur it shouldn’t be a major concern for most areas. Accumulating snow is likely for many areas tonight through about midnight with the heaviest snow falling along and immediately behind the leading edge of the deeper layer of cold air as well as over and near the mountains. The southern extent of the deeper layer of cold air is still uncertain and will ultimately decide which areas get the heaviest snow, but it appears that communities along and a bit north of the Arkansas River have the best chance for the heavier accumulations. After midnight the snow should taper off for many areas with just very light snow or some flurries around the area through daybreak. Winter driving conditions should be expected for many areas along and north of the Arkansas River through the night. Snowfall accumulations through early Sunday morning should reach 3″- 6″ for many areas along and north of the Arkansas River. Localized heavier amounts of snow in excess of 6″ are possible near the edge of the deeper cold air as well as over and near the mountains, but whether the mountains in the Pikes Peak Region or areas closer to the Wet and northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains get the heavier snow will depend on how far south the deeper cold air settles. Areas well south of the Arkansas River east of the mountains will probably have lighter accumulations of snow on the order of 1″- 3″.
Extended: Areas of light snow and/or flurries will be possible during the day Sunday. Intermittent bands of heavier snow may develop at times starting Sunday afternoon, and under these bands localized areas could receive an additional 1″- 3″ of snow, but like thunderstorms it is difficult to know exactly where these bands will develop. All areas will be cold with high temperatures only in the teens and 20s. There are indications that another wave will enhance the snowfall over parts of the area Sunday night into early Monday likely favoring southern parts of our coverage area, but right now this period of snowfall looks to be less significant than what will occur for most areas later today and tonight. Monday looks mostly cloudy & very cold with pockets of freezing fog and light snow and/or flurries intermittently through the day. High temperatures for the plains will only reach the 20s with communities on the higher terrain perhaps warming into the 30s. Low clouds and patchy freezing fog should begin to recede from the mountains on Tuesday, but warming will be slow through Wednesday and snow will continue to fall over the high country through Thursday. Thursday and Friday look warmer locally, but possibly windy for some areas too.
