Southern Colorado will enjoy one more quiet stretch of weather before a fast-moving cold front brings rain and snow back to the region late Wednesday evening, according to the First Alert 5 weather team.
Skies stay generally clear overnight as shortwave ridging moves in, and north winds on the eastern plains relax through the evening. Overnight lows fall into the 30s across much of the plains, with 20s expected in the San Luis Valley and mountain valleys.
On Wednesday, sunshine gives way to increasing cloudiness through the afternoon as the cold front arrives from the north. Highs reach the 50s and low 60s ahead of the front before rain showers develop along the Continental Divide by late afternoon and push south across the eastern plains and the I-25 corridor into Wednesday night.
High mountain passes are expected to see heavy snow accumulations, while lower elevations stay mostly liquid. Colorado Springs could see some flakes fly, but accumulation is not expected there.
In Colorado Springs, where the forecast calls for a low of 33 and a high of 51, Wednesday starts mostly sunny before cloud cover builds through the afternoon. Rain showers develop during the evening and spread south overnight, remaining mostly liquid, though a few flakes could mix in across northern El Paso County toward the Palmer Divide. Breezy northerly winds arrive with the front.
Pueblo is forecast to see a low of 35 and a high of 54. The city gets a mild start to Wednesday, with highs climbing into the mid 50s before the cold front shifts winds to the north by afternoon, bringing increasing clouds and scattered rain showers by Wednesday evening and overnight.
Canon City, with a forecast low of 34 and high of 54, also reaches the mid 50s on Wednesday. Expect increasing clouds through the day, with rain showers developing during the late afternoon and evening as the cold front banks against the eastern mountains.
Woodland Park is forecast to see a low of 28 and a high of 48. Showers develop there by Wednesday afternoon and transition to a light rain and snow mix into the evening as temperatures fall into the 20s.
The storm system moves through quickly. Showers exit early Thursday morning, giving way to clearing skies, dry weather and highs in the 50s to low 60s for lower elevations. A weak trough approaches Friday afternoon, bringing spotty snow showers to the Central Mountains with minimal impact expected.
Breezy and dry weather returns for the weekend under high pressure, and a steady warming trend takes hold into early next week. Mostly sunny skies and unseasonably mild highs are expected to push into the 60s to near 70 across the plains by Saturday through Tuesday.
