Colorado Springs, Colo. — Heavy, wet snow will begin impacting southern Colorado by midday Thursday, with hazardous travel developing quickly along I-25 and mountain routes as conditions peak from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Roads from Colorado Springs to Pueblo and south toward Walsenburg and Trinidad will turn slick within minutes of rainfall onset, while higher terrain sees accumulating snow that could down tree limbs and trigger scattered outages.
According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo, a winter storm system will intensify Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon across the southeast mountains and adjacent plains. The heaviest impacts focus on Salida, Canon City, Walsenburg, Trinidad and Alamosa, where probabilities support 6 to 12 inches in the mountains, with rain changing travel conditions at lower elevations.
Rainfall rates may exceed 0.50 inches, leading to pooling on low-lying roads and underpasses in Pueblo and Colorado Springs, while upslope flow enhances snowfall along the eastern mountain slopes. This is part of a broader system pushing moisture into southern Colorado, increasing instability and precipitation coverage.
Travel across La Veta Pass and Monarch Pass may become hazardous by late Thursday afternoon, with slushy accumulation reducing traction and visibility. Commuters on I-25 should expect slowdowns during the evening drive as water and debris collect on roadways.
Avoid mountain travel Thursday evening, slow down on wet roads and secure outdoor items ahead of increasing winds and heavy, wet snow.
The most dangerous travel window remains 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, when snow and rain combine to rapidly deteriorate road conditions.
