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Dangerous travel expected tonight through Tuesday morning from Monument Hill through Castle Rock

Posted at 11:38 AM, Jan 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-21 17:08:33-05

What’s coming tonight:
Blizzard Warnings are now in effect over northern El Paso county following I-25 up north through Castle Rock, as well as out to northeast Colorado. Heavy blowing snow with visibility limited to under 1/4 mile and wind gusts up to 60 mph will make travel north to Denver tonight over Monument Hill and through the Gap dangerous. Travel to Limon on highway 24 will also be dangerous with slick conditions expected on westerly 24 drives to and through Woodland Park.

While areas south of Monument Hill will see blowing snow tonight through Tuesday morning, the biggest impact will stay north of Colorado Springs. Snow totals in the Springs will likely stay under one inch for most of town, until you get up to and north of the Briargate area. Heavy blowing snow through the Springs could still limit visibility and make any commutes to work very bad early Tuesday morning.

Drivers should be prepared with a full tank of fuel and an emergency kit in their vehicle.

RELATED: Winter in Colorado: What every driver needs to know

COLORADO SPRINGS: High – 58; Low – 23. Warm with wind gusts up to 40 or more mph during the day. Blowing snow arrives tonight after 11 pm, especially on the north side of town. Wind gusts tonight could blow up to 50 and even 60 mph on the north side of town. Commutes north through Tuesday morning could be very slick and slow with near zero visibility. Snow totals by tomorrow morning should be near zero for most of the city, but up to and north of Briargate, totals could stack up over one inch.

PUEBLO: High – 64; Low – 26. Warm with wind gusts up to 50 mph or possibly more this afternoon & then again tonight. Blowing snow is possible tonight through early tomorrow morning, but low visibility would be the main concern as little to no accumulation is actually expected, and I-25 will probably be warm enough to stay wet.

CANON CITY: High – 55; Low – 27. Warm with wind gusts today and tonight in the 20 and 30 mph range. Blowing snow tonight is possible but little to no snow accumulation is expected through tomorrow morning. Some drifting from blowing snow is possible tonight through Tuesday morning.

WOODLAND PARK: High – 42; Low – 12. Chilly with wind gusts in the 30 and 40 mph range today and tonight. Scattered snow showers are possible late today, after 3 pm, but no accumulation is expected. Heavier blowing snow with limited visibility and drifting will occur tonight through tomorrow morning. Snow accumulation by tomorrow mornign looks to be somewhere between 1 to 3 inches, but drifts could be much bigger.

TRI-LAKES: High – 50s; Low – 10s. Mild and windy today with a brief sprinkle or flurry possible in the afternoon, depending on how warm temperatures are at the time. Blizzard conditions are expected to form tonight through Tuesday morning as heavy, blowing snow creates near zero visibility and slick roadways. Wind gusts tonight could blow up to 60 mph. Snow totals over Monument Hill should range between 1 to 4 inches, but larger totals are expected up north towards Larkspur and Castle Rock.

PLAINS: High – 60s; Low – 20s. Warm and very windy today with gusts up to and over 40 mph expected through the afternoon. We’ll stay dry today with some blowing snow possible tonight anytime after midnight. Little to no accumulation is expected for all areas south of the Palmer Divide into the plains, but any blowing snow could limit visibility tonight.

WALSENBURG/TRINIDAD: High – 50s; Low – 20s. Warm with very high winds today from Colorado City down through Walsenburg, gusts up to 60 mph are expected off and on through the day. Snow this afternoon is possible, mainly in the mountains this afternoon, but little accumulation is expected. Tonight through Tuesday morning blowing snow will be a possibility, with limited visibility from blowing snow as the biggest threat. Snow totals should stay at or under one inch.