Forecasters predict lots of blow but little snow

A lot of wind, but not a lot of white.

That's what's happening in much of Colorado Springs, and there's a good chance it will stay that way.

Wind gusts at the Colorado Springs Airport reached 45 mph Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a high wind warning for southern El Paso County, to remain in effect until 10 p.m.

The warning calls for northerly winds at 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

Wind is blowing steadily at 33 mph at the airport and gusting to 42 mph this afternoon, the National Weather Service said. The high-wind warning is also in effect for Pueblo, Crowly, Otero, Kiowa, Bent and Prowers counties.

Gusts of 50 mph are possible throughout the day. Sporadic snow showers have been falling throughout the Pikes Peak region. Woodland Park reports a dusting.

"Northern El Paso County may get a few inches," Pamela Evenson, National Weather Service meteorologist, said this morning. "They have a better chance than Colorado Springs. Calhan and Ramah have some snow going on now and it is windy."

The wind may be more dangerous than snow.

"Winds like that can take down power lines and flip light, high profile vehicles like RVs," Evenson said.

The worst of the storm is well north of Colorado Springs, with its fringes hitting the northern edge of the county.

"Light is snow falling in Monument. The wind has kicked up. It's a little more foggy and hard to see," Monument police officer Kieth Moreland said.

"We're gearing up. So far, so good."

Denver is getting less snow than expected, too, the Associated Press reports.

Dry air over the Front Range Saturday delayed the bulk of the storm that hit the mountains, lowering the amount of snow expected in the Denver area.

More than a foot of snow fell in parts of the mountains and several inches piled up in some of the foothills. The National Weather Service received a report of nearly 9 inches of snow in Jamestown, west of Boulder.

Parts of Larimer County in northern Colorado reported from 4 to 5 inches of snow, the wire service said.

Interstate 25 was closed Saturday morning north of Fort Collins, but reopened later in the day.

An inch to 2 inches fell in the metro area by Saturday morning. The Denver was expected to get up to 5 inches of snow through the day, down from the 5 to 10 inches the storm was expected to bring over night.

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