Winter Storm to Affect Southern CO This Afternoon through Wednesday

Updated: 600 AM MST, Tuesday, November 10th

A potent weather system is still on track to bring snow, rain, and wind to southern Colorado.  The storm will first impact the Continental Divide this afternoon and spread eastward tonight. Significant snow accumulations will be probable along the Continental Divide from the Mosquito and eastern Sawatch Ranges to the La Garita and eastern San Juan Mountains where Winter Weather Advisories are in effect. In addition, a Red Flag Warning goes into effect for the Trinidad and Walsenburg areas, and across all of Las Animas and Baca Counties this afternoon due to a combination of gusty winds and high fire danger.  A Winter Weather Advisory goes into affect from 11 PM tonight through 11 AM Wednesday morning for Teller County and Northern El Paso County.  And a High Wind Watch remains in effect early Wednesday morning through the afternoon for probable high winds across Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, and Baca Counties. 

Concerning snow in the eastern part of the area, the current storm track still brings the best chance for accumulating snow to the eastern mountains, particularly Pikes Peak, and the northern part of El Paso County along the Palmer Divide, where 1 to 6 inches of wind driven snow will be possible Wednesday morning. The focus of heavier snow accumulations across eastern Colorado, however, remains across the northeast plains of Colorado, where various Winter Storm Advisories, Warnings and Blizzard Warnings have been issued for late tonight through tomorrow afternoon.

The latest computer guidance keeps the brunt of this system across northeastern Colorado, however, this storm system is still developing across the Great Basin and could still change its course. If the storm track is farther south than now forecast, the risk for a more significant snow in southeast Colorado would increase.  Regardless, strong northwest winds will develop behind the strengthening low pressure area, bringing blowing and drifting snow to those areas in eastern Colorado that have snow accumulation, and possible blowing dust to portions of the southeast Plains.