Winter Storm Warnings and watches are in effect across southern Colorado due to heavy snow tonight through Thursday. Here are the details you'll need on how much snow is coming and when it will come.
This is looking like a pretty heavy snow across southern Colorado, especially for the mountains, Monument Hill, and Raton Mesa.
Conditions will start to deteriorate quickly this evening, first in the Pikes Peak area, then around Walsenburg to Trinidad, and finally through Pueblo. Heavy snow will make overnight and early morning travel difficult and dangerous.
The winds are not expected to be particularly strong, but they will still be strong enough to cause drifting across the roads will limited visibility tonight through early Thursday morning.
Rain will show up first in the Pikes Peak Region around 4 to 5 pm, with a switch to snow between 6 to 8 pm.
Snow totals look highest across the mountains and north side of town closer to Monument Hill. While areas east of I-25, like Academy and Powers, are expected to see less snowfall, 2 to 5 inches will still lead to slick and difficult driving conditions early Thursday morning.
Snow is expected to wrap up in the Pikes Peak Region between 6 to 8 am Thursday morning, but the roads will likely not start drying out till 10 am when the snow plows can play catch up.
Rain and snow are expected from Pueblo west to Canon City and the Wet Mountains, with everyone seeing all snow by midnight. Rain on highway 50 and I-25 through Pueblo could easily turn to ice tonight before the rain changes to snow.
The Wet Mountains and Westcliffe will be the first areas to see snow, probably around 6 to 7 pm. Canon City will see rain from 7 to 9 pm with a change to snow by 10 to 11 pm.
Pueblo will be the last to see rain change to snow, with rain until 11 pm and snow forming by midnight. Pueblo could easily have ice hiding under the 2 to 4 inches of snow that will fall through Thursday morning. The snow will stop falling in this region from 8 to 10 am Thursday morning.
People living in and around the Wet Mountains should have extra food and water prepared before the heavy snow starts falling this evening. It will take snow plows and trucks several hours Thursday morning to get 10 to 12 inches of snow pushed off the roads.
Very heavy snow is forecast to fall across the Sangre De Cristos and southern I-25 corridor later tonight through Thursday morning.
There will be a brief rain from Walsenburg to Trinidad tonight from 6 to 7 pm, with a change over to snow between 8 to 10 pm. Rain early in this evening could lead to icy conditions on I-25.
The heaviest snow will fall West of I-25 in the mountains and along La Veta Pass. Travel tonight will be extremely difficult from heavy snow and rapidly deteriorating road conditions.
It would be a good idea to stop and pick up extra water and food on the way home from work today. Snow this heavy can take down trees and power lines pretty easily.
Snow will stop falling in this region from mid morning to lunch Thursday. The roads will likely remain slick will into the mid afternoon.
