Marty’s Sunday Morning Forecast – Much Colder – 10/27/19
Overview: A series of waves will bring much colder air and chances for wintry precipitation to all areas. Many areas will receive some snow with each wave, and each wave may produce pockets of significant snowfall, but the areas most heavily impacted by each wave will vary. The first looks to hit the northern mountains the hardest today, the second probably brings the heaviest snow to southern Colorado tonight and Monday morning, and then after a short break the third looks to bring more snow to many areas Tuesday and Wednesday. All areas will be chilly for several days next week.
Today: The first upper level wave will produce areas of heavy snow over the mountains of northern Colorado today where winter driving conditions are likely. The cold air associated with this wave will remain quite shallow over much of southern Colorado limiting precipitation, but a light wintry mix of drizzle, freezing drizzle and light snow may develop along and north of the Palmer Divide, and also over the northern slopes of the Raton Mesa. We don’t expect widespread, slick roadways locally today, but particularly over the higher terrain in the Pikes Peak Region some icy windshields and wet and/or spotty slick/slightly whitened roadways, bridges and overpasses could slow travel, and if your travels take you to Denver slick spots may be more widespread. For areas within this shallow layer of cold air the temperatures will hover in the 20s and 30s all day, but the San Luis Valley may remain protected from the shallow layer of cold air by the Sangre De Cristo Mountains and could warm into the 50s with some sun and a strong southwesterly wind. The cold air looks to deepen over the Pikes Peak Region during the afternoon which could increase snowfall a little late in the day, but it does not appear we should expect any heavy snow over our major population centers today.
Tonight: Snow should become more widespread later tonight into Monday morning over southern Colorado as a second wave approaches the area. This storm is cold so the snow will likely be dry and airy compared to the last storm which will make it easier to move, but it also means it will more easily accumulate on roadways. Currently it appears the Wet Mountains will receive the heaviest snow ( 8 ” + ) from this wave through Monday, and there may be other areas that receive as much, but several inches of snow ( 3 ” – 6 ” ) should fall over many areas and it appears likely that travel over our major population centers will be slick for the Monday morning commute. By morning temperatures will be in the teens and 20s .
Extended: By Monday afternoon the second wave should be moving away from the area with some clearing possible, but the air will remain chilly with temperatures only in the 20s and 30s . As wave three gets closer to the area Monday night the low clouds should redevelop over much of eastern Colorado and more snow appears likely to develop Tuesday into Wednesday when slick travel could again occur. Wednesday night looks very cold with temperatures falling into the single digits above and below zero for many areas. We should dry out but remain quite cool on Halloween with high temperatures probably only in the 30s for many areas. We expect to warm only slowly as we approach next weekend.
KRDO Only 2019
