First big storm of 2023 set to bring wind & snow to Colorado on Tuesday
Forecast for tonight:
Tonight it’s going to snow for real over the Highlands where a new round of winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories have come into effect. The largest accumulations appear to favor the San Juan Mountains, where another 1-2 feet of fresh powder could fall through Wednesday night.
It will be a calm weather night for the I-25 corridor and plains before snow returns to the region late Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Colorado Springs Forecast: Low: 23; High: 44; After a mild Tuesday morning, our weather will change drastically in the afternoon and evening hours as snow returns to the Pikes Peak region. With recent trends keeping the low a little further north, the biggest local impacts will occur over northern Colorado Springs and the Palmer Divide. Snow levels appear to be between 2 and 5 inches in the city.
Pueblo Forecast: Low: 20; High: 49; Location is everything and for Pueblo on Tuesday and Wednesday we appear to be just outside the bullseye of higher snow totals. The storm should begin bringing rain and snow into our forecast late afternoon, with a transition to snow late Tuesday evening. Snow totals from one lane to 2″.
Forecast for Canon City: Low: 28; High: 47; Cloudy and cooler on Tuesday, with a chance of rain showers late in the afternoon. As colder air settles in after sunset, a transition to snow is likely to occur. Snow totals of 1-3″.
Woodland Park Forecast: Low: 18; High: 37; Early dry skies will give way to increasing snow showers by the afternoon before a possible heavier snowfall Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning. Dangerous to dangerous travel can be expected from Tuesday night into Wednesday. Snow totals of 5-8″.
Tri-Lakes Forecast: Low: 10s/20s; High: 30s/40s; Increasing clouds during the early part of our day Tuesday will be followed by snow as we head into Tuesday night and Wednesday. A winter storm warning goes into effect Tuesday at 5 p.m. and lasts until Wednesday 5 p.m. Snow totals of 6-9″, although locally higher amounts are possible.
Plain’s prognosis: Low: 10s/20s; High: 40s/50s; We anticipate an interesting 24-48 hours for the Plains of Colorado. As the storm moves into southern Colorado on Tuesday, we can’t rule out some isolated thunderstorms across the Plains. Then, as the cold air settles Tuesday night, a transition to snow is likely, with the highest totals expected north of the Arkansas River Valley.
Forecast for Walsenburg and Trinidad: Low: 20s/30s; High: 40s/50s; Mostly cloudy Tuesday with a mix of rain and snow showers for the southern I-25 corridor through afternoon. Humidity won’t be as widespread this far south as this storm will favor areas along and north of the Palmer Divide. Snow totals from 0-2″.
Mountain Forecast: Low: 10s/20s; High: 20s.30s; Here we go again! More heavy snow is expected for the San Juan Mountains through Wednesday, with an additional 1-2 feet of fresh powder here. Lower volumes are to be expected closer to home, with 5-10 inches possible for the Sangres and only a few inches high in the Wet Mountains. It will be windy on top of the snow, with peak gusts of 40-50 mph.
Extended outlook:
KOAA weather
As the surface low strengthens over the plains on Wednesday, encircling humidity will keep our weather unsettled for most of the day. In addition to additional snow showers, the winds will really start to pick up, reaching gusts of up to 30-40 mph. For now, with the current track of the low favoring northern Colorado, I expect the Pikes Peak region to the north to have the greatest impact. These areas should expect significant travel delays, possible road closures and possible school delays and closures.
Dry skies will return on Thursday when temperatures rise a few degrees above freezing, but after a calm day, another storm could bring snow to southern Colorado as we wrap up the week this Friday.
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