Marty’s Thursday Evening Forecast – Gradually Improving Conditions – 3/19/20
Overview: The storm bringing the wind, rain, and snow to the area will move away from us tonight allowing for a decrease in wind and precipitation, but not before some areas on the higher terrain around the Pikes Peak Region (generally above 6500 – 7000 feet) have generally received 6”- 12” of wind-driven snow although isolated areas measured more than a foot. Additional, weak waves will keep the air cool with a chance for at least scattered rain and snow showers at times through Saturday evening. We expect a string of warmer days starting Sunday, but we will be windy at times.
Rest of Tonight: The main storm system will continue to produce occasional light snow showers and/or flurries over the higher terrain around the Pikes Peak Region, and although we don’t expect additional, significant accumulations of snow, with the sun being down and the air temperature falling it won’t take much to re-whiten roadways that were mostly slushy earlier this evening. The wind is still strong over parts of eastern Colorado where blowing snow has continued to cause travel problems this evening, but the wind will continue to decrease gradually from west to east through the night. A weak wave, separate from the one that hit us hard today, will drift up from our southwest and produce snow over primarily the higher terrain southwest of Pueblo tonight where some areas around the Spanish Peaks could pick up 2”- 5” by morning. Some light snow may also develop along and west of I-25 from Colorado Springs to Pueblo to Canon City, but accumulations should remain light with possibly just enough to whiten some roadways. We’ll be cold tonight with temperatures falling into the teens over the mountains, and teens and 20s for the plains by morning, so some residual icy/whitened roadways thanks to light snow, blowing snow and/or water freezing are likely to greet Friday morning travelers.
Friday: Parts of the area may see some sun early Friday morning, but if so, it won’t be too long before the clouds re-develop as the overnight wave helps to draw cold air up against the mountains. Although the wave we are tracking for Friday doesn’t look strong, it will probably result in at least intermittent light snow showers of flurries over and near the mountains with accumulations of snow, if they occur, generally an inch or less. Breezy and chilly along and west of I-25 with high temperatures only in the 30s to lower 40s; some areas along and south of the Arkansas River could get a little warmer.
Extended: Most areas will see some sun Saturday morning before clouds begin to increase again later in the day. Saturday afternoon will be breezy and a little warmer with high temperatures reaching the 40s and 50s for most areas, but scattered rain and snow showers may develop over and near the mountains late in the day and last into Saturday evening. Sunday should kick off a stretch of warmer days for the plains with just some scattered snow showers at times over the ski resorts, and possibly isolated rain or snow showers over and near our local mountain areas. Although we’ll be warmer for several days, we’ll also be windy at times with periods of cloud cover. There are indications that we may cool down and have a better chance for at least scattered rain and snow showers back in the area by about Thursday.
