Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

A winter storm warning goes into effect at 5 p.m. for much of Colorado, so if you're thinking about skiing or snowboarding Friday, you should plan your trip accordingly.

Be prepared and take your time!

Heavy snowfall is forecast tonight and into Friday, with some ski areas expected to get a FOOT of snow, and isolated areas forecast for 2-3 FEET!!

Great for playing in, but not so great for driving through, so be careful out there!

The National Weather Service office in Pueblo says the storm will "gather strength as it moves across northern New Mexico and southern Colorado through tonight ... spreading strong winds and moderate to heavy snow."

Areas in north Colorado Springs are expected to get 6 to 10 inches, and up to a foot is forecast for north El Paso County.

Winds are expected to increase to 20-35 mph with gusts of 45 mph after midnight and our roads may become icy, with blowing snow reducing visibility.

Pikes Peak and the upper elevations of Teller County are expected to get 8 to 16 inches of snow, with accompanying winds up to 30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph.

The Sangre De Cristo Mountains and Wet Mountains are forecast to get 8 to 16 inches of snow, with winds up to 30 mph.  Snowfall is expected along northeast facing slopes through Friday.

Breckenridge is forecast to get about 4 inches, and Chaffee County is looking at 4-8 inches.

A FOOT or so of snow is forecast for Loveland Pass, which could be great news for Loveland and A-Basin!

Vail and Aspen are expecting about 6-8 inches of snow through Friday night.

Wolf Creek is looking at another FOOT of snow, and Sunday is Locals Appreciation Day, with $33 lift tickets ($19 for seniors and kids)!  No I.D. required.

Blizzard conditions are forecast for the plains.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has issued an avalanche watch for the Front Range and the Sangre De Cristo Range east of the Continental Divide.  The storm moving into Colorado is forecast to bring 2 feet or more of isolated snow on top of a weak snowpack.

"The rapid addition of a significant snow load will result in widespread avalanche activity," states the CAIC.

"Backcountry users will need to exercise extreme caution as this system evolves on Friday."