Blizzard warning issued for northern El Paso County

A winter storm hit Colorado Springs on Tuesday night, leading to a blizzard warning for parts of El Paso County. The National Weather Service issued the warning just after 8:40 p.m. It will last until 3 a.m. on Wednesday. The area could see total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches and wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph. Due to the severe conditions, the Colorado Springs Police Department has gone on accident alert. They advise that travel should only be done for emergencies. Slippery roads and strong winds are making it unsafe to drive. Some schools in the El Paso County area, including District 49 and Ellicott 22, have announced two-hour delays for Wednesday. As of 9:10 p.m., Interstate 25 north of Monument is closed in both directions because of a stalled vehicle. In addition, there is a snow squall warning for southeastern El Paso County until 10 p.m. This warning indicates intense bursts of heavy snow and wind, which can significantly reduce visibility for drivers. The weather service has reported dangerous snow squalls near Calhan and Truckton.