Artic Express on the Way

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL…EAST
CENTRAL…SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO.

.DAY ONE…TODAY AND TONIGHT (Tuesday and Tuesday Evenint)

AREAS OF FREEZING FOG…DENSE AT TIMES…WILL PERSIST ACROSS
PORTIONS OF THE SAN LUIS VALLEY…INCLUDING ALAMOSA…THROUGH 10 AM
THIS MORNING.

A STREAM OF PACIFIC MOISTURE WILL SPREAD SNOW INTO THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING…AND THEN INTO THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS BY
THIS EVENING.  10 TO 20 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF THE EASTERN SAWATCH AND EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BY
WEDNESDAY MORNING…WHILE 5 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS
THE WESTERN MOSQUITO AND LA GARITA RANGES.

THE HIGH VALLEYS ADJACENT TO MOUNTAINS COULD ALSO SEE A FEW INCHES
OF SNOW BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.  THE UPPER ARKANSAS VALLEY COULD SEE 2
TO 4 INCHES.  THE WET MOUNTAIN VALLEY COULD SEE 1 TO 2 INCHES.
WESTERN AND NORTHERN PARTS OF THE SAN LUIS VALLEY COULD SEE
ACCUMULATIONS LOCALLY TO 1 INCH.

FOR THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS…IT LOOKS LIKE ALL THE ACTION
WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL TONIGHT.  AT THAT TIME…AN ARCTIC FRONT WILL
SPILL SOUTH THROUGH THE PLAINS AND BANK UP AGAINST THE EASTERN
SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS.  THE AIRMASS ACROSS THE PLAINS WILL COOL
AND MOISTEN BEHIND THE FRONT…WITH SNOW DEVELOPING ACROSS THE PIKES
PEAK REGION DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS.  3 TO 7 INCHES
OF SNOW COULD ACCUMULATE ACROSS TELLER…FREMONT AND NORTHERN PARTS
OF EL PASO COUNTY BY WEDNESDAY MORNING…WHILE 1 TO 2 INCHES COULD
ACCUMULATE ELSEWHERE AROUND THE PIKES PEAK REGION.

FOR THE REST OF EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS…LITTLE IF ANY SNOW
ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED THROUGH THE NIGHT ALTHOUGH SPOTTY SNOW
SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE LOCAL ACCUMULATIONS OF AN INCH OR SO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

A LARGE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CARVE OUT OVER THE WESTERN
UNITED STATES DURING THIS PERIOD…ALLOWING ARCTIC AIR TO PLUMMET
SOUTHWARD INTO COLORADO. THE COMBINATION OF MOIST PACIFIC AIR
ALOFT…AND VERY COLD ARCTIC AIR AT THE SURFACE…WILL PROVIDE THE
NECESSARY INGREDIENTS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF VERY COLD
TEMPERATURES AND PERIODS OF SNOW OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO.

THE EXCEPTIONAL ASPECT OF THIS ARCTIC OUTBREAK WILL BE THE LENGTH
OF TIME IT STICKS AROUND. SOUTHERN COLORADO IS FREQUENTLY VISITED
BY ARCTIC AIR MASSES DURING THE WINTER…BUT THEY USUALLY ONLY
STICK AROUND FOR A DAY OR TWO. THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE IT WILL LINGER
THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY. THE AIR WILL BE VERY COLD DURING THIS
PERIOD WITH HIGHS LIKELY NOT OUT OF THE TEENS AND 20S MOST
DAYS…AND LOWS RANGING FROM 10 BELOW TO 10 ABOVE ZERO.

THERE IS ALSO GOOD SNOWFALL POTENTIAL WITH THIS STORM.  WHILE IT
IS STILL TOO EARLY TO NAIL DOWN SPECIFIC AMOUNTS…IT IS A GOOD
BET THAT THE MOUNTAINS WILL SEE AT LEAST A FOOT OR TWO OF NEW SNOW
DURING THIS EVENT…WHILE THE LOWER ELEVATIONS CAN EXPECT TO SEE
SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOWFALL.

TAKE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE COLD NOW.  THIS WILL BE AN EXCEPTIONAL
PERIOD OF COLD FOR SOUTHERN COLORADO.  PREPARE YOUR HOME…AUTO OR
BUSINESS. CHECK YOUR FURNACE. INSULATE EXPOSED WATER PIPES.  MAKE
SURE YOUR CAR HAS A STRONG BATTERY…PROPER ANTIFREEZE PROTECTION
AND A GOOD SET OF ALL SEASON OR SNOW TIRES. MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS
DRESS WARMLY BEFORE HEADING TO SCHOOL AND GIVE YOUR PETS ADEQUATE
SHELTER FROM THE COLD. THIS WILL BE AN UNUSUALLY LONG PERIOD FOR
SOUTHERN COLORADO TO BE IN THE DEEP FREEZE. GET READY FOR IT NOW
WHILE THE TEMPERATURES ARE STILL MILD.