DENVER — Denver’s snow totals will pile up into the double digits as yet another round of early-season accumulations are in the metro’s forecast Friday into early Saturday morning where weather forecasters said snowfall rates up to 2 inches per hour could dump up to 10 more inches of snow by the time the storm system moves out of Colorado.
“We’ll get a break in between these rounds of snow as the next round rolls in tonight into tomorrow,” said Denver7 meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo. "It looks like throughout the day on Friday, is when we’ll see snow pick up in intensity – bringing upwards of around 10 inches for Denver and up to a foot, if not more, west of the metro up into the ski resorts that are going to be opening up early for the season.”
A winter storm warning will go into effect for the entire Denver metro area starting at 5 a.m. on Friday through at least noon on Saturday for “heavy, wet snow,” according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder.
The winter storm warning for Denver was upgraded from a winter storm watch.
Of particular concern will be commuters navigating the roadways for the Friday evening commute.
“Snow and ice covered roads will make travel hazardous, with the possibility of very difficult or impossible travel. Travel could be very difficult,” wrote the NWS.
Ahead of Friday's additional snow, multiple roads on Colorado's plains were already closed Thursday, including both directions of I-70 from Denver to the Kansas state line. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) on Thursday urged motorists to stay alert to more potential road closures.
"Treacherous, sustained adverse winter conditions are expected along the eastern plains and southeastern Colorado. Drivers are urged to avoid traveling east of Interstate 25 and from south of Interstate 76 to the New Mexico and Kansas state lines," said CDOT in a release.
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John Lorme, CDOT's director of maintenance and operations said to expect possible "long-term closures."
“The storm may look like it is leaving later this afternoon, but the next round is expected to be worse than what we have already seen,” said Lorme. “Drivers should be prepared for long-term closures and should avoid driving in the most impacted areas of the state for the duration of the storm.”
Check latest Colorado winter weather alerts
“Several rounds of snow will continue to impact the area through Saturday morning. The highest impacts can be expected over the Palmer Divide through the Limon and I-70 Corridor of the eastern plains through this entire period, with difficult if not impossible travel conditions,” NWS forecasters wrote.
Winter storm warnings are also in effect for Colorado Springs and a large portion of the state farther south and through the eastern plains to include I-70.
The CDOT map below shows areas of potential storm impacts through Saturday.
While Fort Collins was not under a winter weather alert — as of early Thursday afternoon — the NWS added a winter weather advisory for portions of Weld and Morgan Counties to include Greeley and Fort Morgan where between 1 and 8 inches of snow were possible through Saturday, wrote the NWS.
These multiple rounds of snow this week will likely push Denver above its normal snow totals for the entire month which is 7.3 inches during November.
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COLORADO WINTER WEATHER TIMELINE
“Skies will gradually start to clear out over the Denver metro area by this afternoon with just a few lingering flurries,” said Hidalgo.
Denver7 futurecast models show by around 2 p.m. Thursday a few flurries will remain before tapering off through the early evening hours. Snow is expected to pick back up in Denver by late Thursday evening – at around 10 to 11 p.m.
“Throughout the day on Friday is when we’ll start to see that snow pick up in intensity,” said Hidalgo. “For those high school football games, by 5 o’clock expect upper 30s for high temperatures dropping down close to the freezing mark by 9 p.m., as the snow continues.”
Denver7 will track any potential school closings for Friday, which can be checked any time at this link.
As the light snow returns Friday morning for the metro, moderate snowfall will pick up for the evening commute with the heaviest snow expected along I-25 and roads in the higher elevations particularly along the Palmer Divide and southern foothills, added the NWS.
By Saturday morning, the snow will start to move out bringing clearing skies.
For the mountains, Saturday will bring a chance for snow early on in the day before skies will start to clear out as high temperatures stay in the 20s. Hidalgo said to expect more sunshine on Sunday with a high temp in the 30s.
DENVER WEEKEND FORECAST
After morning snow showers move out, Saturday’s high temperature in Denver will reach the low 40s before improved weather arrives on Sunday where mostly sunny skies and a high temp of 52 degrees will help the snow melt.
Monday’s weather forecast in Denver will bring a return to mostly sunny skies and high in the mid-50s. Tuesday, Denver can expect a chance of rain but a high temp around 54 degrees.
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