Winter in May? It might look like it around Colorado Springs
Get ready for a springtime taste of winter in the Pikes Peak region and other areas of southern Colorado in the next few days.
A winter storm warning is in effect for Teller County from 6 a.m. Thursday to noon Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo. The warning area includes the far western edge of El Paso County and Pikes Peak along with the northern part of Fremont County.
Snow totals ranging from 6 to 16 inches are expected for areas around Woodland Park, with the highest amount expected atop 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, the Weather Service said.
“Colorado Springs will likely just see some rain on Thursday, and snow chances won’t pick up until Friday morning,” said Lauren Brand, a meteorologist with Gazette news partner KOAA.
A high temperature of 46 degrees is forecast for Colorado Springs on Thursday with a 90% chance of rain. An expected rain-snow mix will arrive overnight with a low of 32 on Friday morning, the first day of May.
“This will impact Friday morning’s commute, and drivers need to allow extra time to get to their destination,” said Brand.
Colorado Springs has a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday, with a high of 49 degrees before sunny skies and warmer temps return over the weekend. The thermometer is expected to reach 62 on Saturday and 69 on Sunday.
A winter storm warning that includes the Sangre de Cristo and Wet mountains is in effect from 6 a.m. Thursday to midnight Friday. Snow accumulations from 12 to 16 inches are expected in higher-elevation areas from Poncha Pass near Salida south to the New Mexico border.
Colorado Springs and most of Colorado have been beset by low snowpack and little precipitation in April. The Colorado Springs Airport, the city’s official reporting site, has recorded 0.25 of an inch of precipitation in April — although parts of the city did get as much as 0.83 of an inch of rain earlier this week, according to the Weather Service.
On average, April sees 1.45 inches of rain in Colorado Springs and 5.5 inches of snow, according to data from the Weather Service.