More snow expected for Pikes Peak, rain in the Springs

White peaks and moisture are in store for Colorado Springs this week.

“This morning we had light snow and high winds,” said Linda Winter, who works at the Pikes Peak Highway toll booth. “(The snow) can start any time. This year it seems to be early.”

Snow closed the highway at mile marker 18 for two hours Monday morning.

“Any time we have snow there’s a possibility that’d we’d have to close a portion of the road,” Winter said. Those who want to drive or bike to the summit of Pikes Peak can call ahead to check road conditions.

National Weather Service forecaster Eric Petersen said snow will accumulate on Pikes Peak and on a few of the central peaks, with most of the snow falling Tuesday and Wednesday. But the incoming system, he said, is slow-moving and reasonably warm.

“The snow is going to be limited to really up high in the mountains, probably above 12,000 feet,” Petersen said. “Right over the peaks is where we’re going to see accumulation.”

Slightly cooler weather at lower elevations will bring the possibility of rain and a thunderstorm or two, Petersen predicted.

“We’re going to see gradually cooler temperatures (Tuesday) and Wednesday,” he said.

The National Weather Service predicts highs in the uppers 60s Tuesday and Wednesday, and in the lower 70s Thursday and Friday, with overnight lows in the 40s.

The sight of white-capped mountains this week might make skiers antsy, but they’ll have to wait a little longer before hitting the powder.

“We’re still in the off season,” Aspen/Snowmass spokeswoman Meaghan Lynch said Monday morning. “I think it will start to pick up in another month.”

Lynch said there was a dusting of snow on Aspen Mountain on Monday morning. The snow hasn’t reached the base of the mountain, which is scheduled to open to skiers Nov. 22.

“We’ll probably see more of that (snowfall) this week,” she said.