Colorado weather alert: Monday to be worst day of storm with coldest wind chill, more snow

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·4 min read
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If you thought Saturday and Sunday were brutal, brace yourself for today as Monday, Jan. 15, will be even colder, snowier and windier than the weekend in Fort Collins.

There is sun on the horizon, but until then, here is what you need to know about our storm, including warnings, travel impacts, the coldest wind chills and when it will warm up.

CSU, area public schools cancel Tuesday classes

The start of the spring semester at Colorado State University was delayed a day, and a scheduled three-day weekend was extended to four days for students and staff in public schools in the Poudre, Thompson and Weld RE-4 school districts.

Here's what we have for warnings for Monday

  • Wind chill warning: Until 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, for the eastern third of Colorado, including Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

  • Winter storm warning: Until 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, for much of the central and northern mountains.

  • Avalanche warning: Until 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, for all of the central and northern mountains, including Cameron Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, Steamboat area and into Summit County.

When will this storm finally move out of Colorado?

  • Mountains: Continued snow through Monday evening with an additional 3-8 inches or more of snow for mountain passes.

  • Foothills/plains: Snow ending by late Monday afternoon with 1 to 2 inches of snow in most places with totals possibly higher due to banding near the Boulder County foothills

Storm continues to impact travel plans on busy MLK Day

The Colorado Department of Transportation said travelers should expect delays for avalanche mitigation and snow removal on Interstate 70, U.S. Highway 40, U.S. Highway 50 and other mountain passes Jan. 15-16.

Here are road condition updates as of 6:30 a.m. Monday. For updated conditions, visit cotrip.com

  • Colorado Highway 14: Closed in both directions on either side of Cameron Pass due to avalanche mitigation and safety concerns.

  • Colorado Highway 6: Closed at Loveland Pass due to adverse conditions and safety concerns.

  • U.S. Highway 40: Closed at Berthoud Pass due to an avalanche that came across the highway and trapped vehicles.

  • Interstate 25: Between Fort Collins and Denver is icy and snow packed in spots.

  • Interstate 70: West of Denver traction laws in place, whiteout conditions in areas and interstate icy and snow packed.

  • Interstate 70: East of Denver is icy and snow packed in spots.

  • Interstate 76: Icy and snow packed in spots.

A look at flight delays, cancellations at DIA on Monday due to the storm

As of 8 a.m. Monday, there have been 99 delays and 310 cancelled flights at DIA, according to FlightAware.

Check with your airline before heading to DIA.

Here are some of the coldest wind chills expected for Monday into Tuesday morning

According to the National Weather Service:

  • Fort Collins: Minus 27 degrees

  • Greeley: Minus 26 degrees

  • Estes Park: Minus 25 degrees

  • Limon: Minus 33 degrees

  • Denver: Minus 20 degrees

  • Fort Morgan: Minus 34

  • Julesburg: Minus 34

  • Longmont: Minus 23

  • Walden: Minus 31

Fort Collins has not broken a cold record, but that will likely change Monday

Fort Collins is forecast to break two records Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

The record maximum low is 2 degrees. Forecast is 1 degree. Record low is minus 11. Forecast is minus 14.

Fort Collins forecast calls for seasonal temperatures by midweek

According to the National Weather Service

  • Monday: 80% chance of snow with 1 to 3 inches possible, mainly before 11 a.m. High near 1 with wind chill of minus 27 degrees. Low around minus 14 with wind chill of minus 25

  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 26 degrees with wind chill as low as minus 20. Low around 11 degrees.

  • Wednesday: 20% chance of snow after 11 a.m., mixing with rain after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 43 and low around 19.

  • Thursday: 30% chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 43 and low around 7.

  • Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31 and low around 15.

  • Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47 and low around 25

  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado storm not over. Monday brings colder wind chill, more snow