Cold Front Saturday to Cut Southern Colorado Highs by 15 Degrees, Add Rain

A cold front is set to cross Colorado early Saturday, dropping temperatures across the southern part of the state.

The National Weather Service expects highs to fall by 10 to 15 degrees as tropical moisture shifts east over the region. Forecasters put total rainfall between 0.10 and 0.75 inches. Winds are projected to build Friday and hold through the weekend, with gusts reaching 40 to 45 mph.

Before the front arrives, scattered showers were expected Thursday evening across the Pikes Peak Region, Pueblo County and the eastern plains. Overnight lows across most of southern Colorado were forecast to sit in the 40s and 50s. Farther west, the San Juan Mountains and Colorado's southwestern corner were slated for continued heavy rain, with flood watches, severe thunderstorm watches and several flood warnings covering that area.

Friday's forecast runs warm ahead of the change. Colorado Springs was pegged for a low of 51 and a high of 73, Pueblo for 55 and 81, Canon City for 54 and 75, and Woodland Park for 43 and 56. The plains were expected to reach a low of 60 and a high of 83, while mountain areas were forecast to hit 41 and 59. Showers were possible early Friday in Colorado Springs and through the day in Pueblo. In the San Juans and along the western slope, heavy rain and flood risk were expected to continue Friday and through the weekend, with snow levels dropping after the front passes.

Woodland Park's forecast calls for cooler weekend conditions with cold rain and possible snow, while the plains could collect measurable rainfall as temperatures fall and winds pick up. The extended outlook has the region drying out next week, with temperatures returning to seasonal levels.

The front crosses Colorado early Saturday.