Roads may be a tad dicey for New Year's Eve revelers in Colorado Springs.
The forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of snow after 11 p.m. Sunday, increasing to 40 percent Monday. Monday night there is a 30 percent chance of snow.
It’s going to be cold, too, with a high near 18 and a low around 4.
“It will wind down quickly after about 9 p.m.,” said Kathleen Torgerson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pueblo.
While the city will average about an inch of snow overall, Torgerson noted some isolated areas may get hit with more.
The result could be slick roads.
“It doesn’t take much to ice up the roads,” Torgerson said. “It’s something to be concerned about.”
There’s good news for road crews though. The snow is expected to be dry, which means it won’t stick as much and the wind will be relatively calm, at 5 miles per hour at around midnight.
“I don’t anticipate any blowing snow issues,” Torgerson said. “The brunt of this storm is going to impact mainly the Southwest part of the state.”
Teller County will get from one to three inches of snow, while Monument Hill will see about two inches.
With the potential of slick roads, the Colorado State Patrol is urging people who plan to get festive to have a safe exit strategy.
“We always encourage people beforehand, if you are planning on drinking or celebrating in any form, have a plan before you start celebrating,” said trooper Josh Lewis.
On- and off-ramps and bridges tend to be slippery and there’s always the possibility of black ice, he said.
“We will have extra patrol out for DUI enforcement and visibility,” Lewis said.
Bars and restaurants are getting prepared.
Jack Quinn’s Irish Alehouse & Pub takes part in the Designated Driver program and McDivitt
Law Firm’s Safe and Sober Free Ride Home Program, said Meredith Klube, banquet manager.
“We call Designated Driver and two volunteers will meet you at your car,” she said. “One will drive your car and the other one will drive you. It’s a free service although they encourage a $20 tip, and we’re happy to call the number for you.”
The pub has posters about the Safe and Sober program posted, “and we’d be happy to call them, too,” Klube said.
“You don’t want to put people out there to have an accident,” she said. “We encourage this regardless of the weather.”