Tuesday remains another mild day across the lower elevations. Highs should return to the 70s around the Pikes Peak region, upper 70s across the eastern plains, and 60s through Teller County. The high country will be cooler, but temperatures across most of southern Colorado will not fluctuate dramatically through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Expect another morning with many lower-elevation communities in the 40s. The bigger weather story is a strengthening trough of low pressure now off the Oregon and Washington coast. It will first dig south along the West Coast, then begin directing richer moisture toward the Four Corners and southwest Colorado during the middle and latter part of the week. While this system will bring some clouds and periods of wind to southern Colorado, its most significant moisture looks set to remain over the high country, especially in and around the San Juan Mountains.By Wednesday afternoon, the concern for heavy rain and potential flooding begins to increase across the San Juans. The most persistent moisture is expected near the Durango, Telluride, and broader Four Corners region, continuing into Thursday. This is a setup worth watching closely because soils in parts of the San Juans are already wet from recent precipitation. Heavy rain over steep terrain can quickly lead to rising creeks and streams, runoff issues, and the possibility of rock or mud slides in vulnerable mountain areas.
Snow levels are expected to stay quite high with this system. That means a large share of the precipitation will fall as rain, even at elevations around 9,000 to 10,000 feet. The highest peaks may see snow, with snow showers more likely above roughly 11,000 to 12,000 feet near places such as Pagosa Springs. For travelers, hikers, and anyone with plans in the southwest Colorado mountains, be ready for changing conditions and keep up with the latest local forecasts as the event gets closer. The timing and placement of the heaviest rain still favor the San Juans rather than the Interstate 25 corridor. Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Woodland Park, Trinidad, La Junta, and the eastern plains are expected to stay mainly dry for much of the workweek. That does not mean completely cloud-free conditions; the approaching system will add clouds and may bring breezier periods. But the widespread, rich moisture remains focused farther west and southwest. For the San Juan region, Wednesday and Thursday are the key days to monitor. Rain could become heavy at times, especially from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night. With freezing levels remaining high, runoff will be more of a concern than accumulating snow at many mountain-pass and mid-elevation locations. If you will be driving through southwest Colorado, allow extra time, watch for water on roads, and remember that rockfall and debris can become a concern near steep slopes during prolonged rainfall. Across the rest of southern Colorado, the later-week transition will be more noticeable in the temperatures than in the precipitation. A colder front is expected to push into the region by the weekend as the broader trough shifts east. That front should bring cooler air, more wind at times, and at least a chance for some precipitation. At this point, precipitation chances east of the mountains do not look especially high, so the main message is a cooldown rather than a widespread wet or snowy weekend. Highs that are running in the 60s and 70s through midweek will fall back into the 50s Saturday and Sunday for many lower-elevation communities. Woodland Park will feel that change even more sharply: highs remain in the 60s over the next few days, then may struggle to climb out of the 40s this weekend. Plan for a more autumn-like feel if you have outdoor events, mountain travel, yard work, or late-season activities planned. This is also the time of year when the earlier sunsets become more noticeable. The days have been getting shorter since late summer, and October is often when that change really stands out during the evening commute and after-school hours. Our Weather. Together. [P2P:PR]
