By Chris Sorensen

A warm and windy Friday will give way to a cold and snowy weekend. If you have weekend shopping travel plans, keep in mind weather warnings and advisories will be in place for many areas. Roads may be extremely slick and icy – good reason to stay close to home and shop locally.

Fire risk is elevated across the area as temperatures rise to the low 60s Friday, accompanied by west winds in the 15 to 20 mile-per-hour range and gusts as high as 30 mph in Kiowa County, and potentially stronger in other part of southeast Colorado.

An incoming artic front will drop temperatures to the low single-digits Friday night as the wind shifts to the north and increases to 20 to 25 mph after midnight. Gusts to 35 mph are possible, and snow potential increases after 1:00 a.m.

The thermometer will barely budge Saturday, rising only to the mid-single digits for a high. Snow is likely before 11:00 a.m., and watch for blowing snow until mid-afternoon. North winds will continue during the morning in the 15 to 20 mph range, producing wind chill values between -10 and -15. One to two inches of snow can be expected.

Overnight Saturday, the temperature will fall to near -10. Although wind speed will drop significantly, wind chill values between -10 and -20 are possible.

A relative warming trend starts Sunday as the high reaches the mid-20s, however the overnight low will return to negative single digits.

A return to above-freezing temperatures occurs Monday as the high moves to the mid-30s. The overnight low will be in the positive single digits.

For Tuesday through Thursday, high temperatures will be in the 40s.