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SOUTHERN COLORADO -- For the first time in 2012, a major winter storm is taking aim at the state.

The storm is crossing the Great Basin into the Four Corners area as of Thursday morning. Moisture is quickly spreading into the mountains and portions of the plains. By the afternoon, the I-25 corridor should be experiencing the first snowflakes of the storm.

There is not a lot of cold air with the storm, so the precipitation may be light rain at first. However, it should quickly change over to snow as the day progresses. Icy roadways are a possibility for the commute home.

There is a convective nature to the snow, which means there will be the potential for localized areas to see heavier snows at times. Should this happen, heavy accumulations will be possible in these areas. Overnight, winds will start to ramp up out of the north. Northerly winds are downslope for Colorado Springs and Pueblo, so southern areas of Colorado Springs and Pueblo county will start to just see light or blowing snow.

Friday will be cold and blustery with snow in the higher elevations. East of I-25, it will be a rough day with heavy snow, wind, and blizzard conditions. Strong northerly winds will continue through Friday night.

For snow totals, it is tough as always given our complex terrain. Monument Hill may pick up over a foot of snow, while southern areas of the city may only see about 2-3 inches. I am increasingly confident that all of Southern Colorado will at least see a bit of snow or rain.

Pueblo should see anywhere between 1-4 inches while Woodland Park will likely see over 8 inches, possibly getting close to a foot of snow.

The Eastern Plains present a more challenging forecast. Due to the convective nature of the storm, we could see trace amounts of snow, but areas the see a heavier band set up may reach over 8" accumulation.

Of course, any deviation in the current storm track will greatly affect these storm totals, and I expect that some of the areas will pick up more or less than what I have forecasted! But, that is the forecast based on current storm position, movement, and forecast. Prepare for a high-impact event with very difficult travel conditions for Thursday night through the day on Friday.

To track this storm, click here
To see the latest school and business closings, click here