Colorado’s snowpack continues to lag well below average but a potent winter storm should help alleviate the dry conditions and bring Denver its biggest snow of the season. Warnings have been issued and preparations are being made for a healthy dose of wintry weather.
As recently as yesterday forecasts showed snow but nothing too extraordinary. A track slightly to the north and an increase in moisture have contributed to increasing chances for a significant storm.
The storm system is currently working its way across the Great Basin and ahead of it western Colorado is seeing snow.
As it works its way to the east snow will become widespread and make its way into the Denver metro area later tonight. A prolonged period of moderate to heavy snowfall will then be possible lasting through much of Sunday.
For the Denver metro area some light snow may begin to fall after dark and then by around midnight the snow will get started in earnest. By 6:00am Sunday parts of the Mile High City could already have a few inches of snow on the ground with even more to come during the day.
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued and goes into effect at midnight tonight and lasts through 5:00pm Sunday for an area from the southern foothills, through the Denver metro area and into Weld and Morgan Counties.
Total snowfall accumulations for the event are expected to be in the 6 to 10 inch range for the Denve area with the higher amounts to the south. Areas to the north are expected to be at the lower end of the range.
Given the dynamic nature of this storm and models trending toward more moisture, those anticipated snowfall totals may need to bumped up as the storm gets closer and we get a better grip on its track.
To Denver’s south and east, the snow is going to be coupled with strong winds that will create blizzard conditions. Travel in these areas is going to be hazardous and is not recommended on Sunday.
A Blizzard Warning will be in effect tonight and tomorrow for an area stretching from Castle Rock and the Palmer Divide across the plains to Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties. Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 12 inches in the western part of the watch area will be possible, lighter amounts to the east.
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