Snow Squall Warning Issued for Chaffee, Fremont, and Saguache Counties in Central Colorado

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Snow Squall Warning for portions of central Colorado. This alert is effective immediately following the detection of a dangerous snow squall by radar and webcams.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Southeastern Chaffee County
• Western Fremont County
• North central Saguache County

Specific locations impacted include Salida, Poncha Springs, Bonanza, Howard, Villa Grove, Waugh Mountain, Swissvale, the Decker Burn Scar, and Poncha Pass. This weather event will directly impact travel on Highway 50.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the warning area are advised to Slow Down! Rapid changes in visibility and road conditions are expected. Be alert for sudden whiteout conditions and avoid travel within the warning zone if possible. The NWS recommends a response of “Avoid” for this immediate hazard.

Expected Conditions

At 5:15 PM MST, the snow squall was located along a line extending from 6 miles northeast of Salida to near Swissvale to Bonanza, moving east at 25 mph.

Hazards include:

• Intense bursts of heavy snow
• Gusty winds up to 35 mph
• Blowing snow
• Rapidly falling visibility

Travel is expected to become difficult and potentially dangerous within minutes of the squall’s arrival.

Timeline

The Snow Squall Warning is in effect from 5:15 PM MST until 5:45 PM MST on February 18, 2026. The event is characterized by its brief but intense duration.