Today’s Forecast:
We are going to close out 2018 with one heck of a winter storm. Even if you don’t get much snow, everyone will experience freezing temperatures.
This system is moving slower than it appeared on Sunday, and that means we’re playing the waiting game this morning for the cold and snow to really show up. A cold front moving from northern Colorado will drop in from Denver, increasing the winds and eventually squeezing out snow. It will start over the Palmer Divide and then move south along I-25 and west into the mountains. The plains will see light snow today and tonight, but east of the interstate snow is expected to stay at or under 1 inch. The biggest snow will fall in the Wet and Sangre De Cristo mountain range, and at least 8 inches is expected. A foot isn’t out of the question by Tuesday morning. The San Luis Valley will easily see half a foot by Tuesday morning, more in the north and west to the mountains.
COLORADO SPRINGS: High – 20s to 10s; Low – -1. Steady and falling temperatures from the morning through the night with increasing winds and blowing light to moderate snow. Snow totals will range from 1 to 4 inches with the heavier accumulation more likely west of I-25 and up toward the north side of the city.
PUEBLO: High – 20s to 10s; Low – 3. Steady and falling temperature from the morning through the night with increasing winds and blowing light to moderate snow. Snow totals will be lower in Pueblo with around 1 to 2 inches expected through the city, maybe a better chance for 3 inches in Pueblo West.
CANON CITY: High – 20s to 10s; Low – 1. Steady and falling temperature from the morning through the night with increasing winds. Heavy snowfall through tonight. Snow totals by Tuesday morning will range from 3 to 5 inches with areas west likely seeing at least 5 inches or more.
WOODLAND PARK: High – 10s to 0s; Low – -8. Very cold temperatures all day with the mercury falling into the negatives by tonight with moderate to heavy snow off and on all day and night. Snow totals by Tuesday morning will be in the 3 to 5-inch range with the possibility for areas of Teller county too see more.
TRI-LAKES: High – 10s to 0s; Low – >0. Steady and falling temperatures with growing winds as the day goes on. Snow will show up in the morning with moderate snow off and on through Tuesday morning. Snow totals will range from 2 to 5 inches with that 4 to 5 inch range more towards the west side of the area.
PLAINS: High – 20s to 10s; Low – >10. Steady and falling temperatures with growing winds as the day goes on with light snow off and on today and tonight. Snow totals will likely stay at or below 1 inch for most, with that inch mark more so in areas towards I-25. The cold will be a big problem with wind chills well below zero by Tuesday morning.
WALSENBURG/TRINIDAD: High – 20s to 10s; Low – >10. Steady and falling temperatures today with winds increasing through the day. Moderate to heavy snow will start falling later today and continue all the way out into Tuesday morning. Snow totals in the Walsenburg area will be between 4 to 7 inches while near Trinidad, it will range from 3 to 6 inches by Tuesday morning. Travel will be dangerous tonight in and around the mountains, especially through La Veta Pass and around the Sangres where snow totals of at least 8 inches are possible.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK:
Here’s the snow map, even if totals in the Springs/Pueblo stay near that 1 to 2 inch range, it’ll be blowing around and dangerous to drive in. The mountains will see the most snow and travel will be incredibly dangerous through tonight pic.twitter.com/vZOJ1qt4ZA
— Sam Schreier (@SamASchreier) December 31, 2018
Dangerous cold will take over as the primary weather impact tonight, but plenty will still be seeing snow. The mountains will continue to see moderate to light snow into Tuesday morning, we’re talking mainly the Sangre De Cristo and San Juan ranges, but all snow will get lighter as Tuesday morning rolls in. Temperatures tonight for the region will fall at or below for most of the region, especially those in the mountains. Wind chills along the I-25 corridor will fall to the negative single and double digits at times, with highs Tuesday returning to the teens.
The weather will warm up dramatically through the week with Wednesday back into the 40s and then 50s by Friday! After today and tonight, there are no rain or snow chances in the forecast until sometime in the middle of next week.
