(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — Winter weather moves in late Tuesday night, Nov. 26. Heavy snow will continue to fall across the mountains, making travel difficult to nearly impossible.
Portions of the Central Mountains and the San Juans are expecting several feet of snow by the time this event is done on Wednesday evening. One of the main reasons for such significant snow numbers is due to the abundant moisture in place.
Our jet stream, the highway of winds floating above us, is picking up lots of moisture straight from the Pacific Ocean. The highway is taking that moisture and depositing it straight into the Rocky Mountains. What that means for the region is heavy snow up in the mountains and smaller accumulations at the lower elevations.
A light rain/snow mix will start in the Denver Metro late Tuesday night; eventually, that mixture will drift further south, up over the Palmer Divide. Monument and Woodland Park will certainly see the activity first. Timing is generally expected around midnight for this first phase.
Early Wednesday morning, much of the Pikes Peak region will be dealing with the bulk of this storm system. This will lead to a particularly difficult Wednesday morning commute, especially if a snow band manages to set up right over the city. A snow band is in an intense pocket (or band) of snowfall that brings greater amounts of precipitation and at a faster rate.
With this system, there are still a few questions regarding temperatures; models are picking up on a tight rain/snow line which means that warmer temperatures could influence snow totals. If the precipitation doesn’t transfer to snow quick enough, then lower amounts will be expected. If the cooler air wins right away, then higher end snow totals will be possible.
By dinnertime on Wednesday, most of the viewing area will be done with the snow as the energy drifts further south. Light flurries will remain possible for the rest of the day on Wednesday with a clear Thanksgiving in sight. Although our holiday looks to remain mostly snow-free, be on the lookout for some very chilly temperatures.
