Winter weather, with snow and temperatures below freezing, will hit northeastern Colorado overnight, with 4 to 6 inches of snow expected in Denver by Thursday morning.
Denver and the metro area is under a winter weather advisory starting at 2 a.m. and running until 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. A wind chill advisory is in effect at 12 a.m. Wednesday and it is posted until 9 a.m. Thursday. Winds in the metro are are expected to gust up to 45 mph, dropping wind chills down to -25 in some areas.
“The combination of wind and cold temperatures will create dangerously low wind chill values,” the weather service said. “If you go outside, cover all parts of your body, especially your head, face, and hands.”
Frostbite could ravage exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, the weather service said.
Rain is expected in Denver on Tuesday night, giving way to a rain and snow mix between 1 and 3 a.m. Wednesday. Skies will be cloudy with a 50% chance of precipitation. Overnight snow accumulation should be less than 1/2 inch.
After a high temperature of 60 degrees on Tuesday in Denver, Wednesday’s high temp in the city will top out near 24 degrees. The wind chill on Wednesday will be near -4 degrees as winds gust to about 24 mph.
The chance for precipitation in Denver on Wednesday is 90% and 2 to 4 inches of snow is possible during the day, according to the weather service forecast. Both the morning and evening commute in the metro area will be impacted by freezing weather and winter-driving conditions.
The winter storm will bring heavy snow on Wednesday to the northern mountains, the northern foothills and the northern Interstate 25 corridor, the weather service said. Lighter snow is expected over the plains.
Snow totals along the Front Range by Thursday morning, according to the weather service, will include:
- 5 to 8 inches in Fort Collins
- 4 to 6 inches Denver
- 4 to 7 inches Golden
- 4 to 8 inches Genesee
- 4 to 7 inches Arvada
- 3 to 6 inches Castle Rock
- 2 to 4 inches in Colorado Springs
In the mountains, by Thursday, 6 to 11 inches of snow is forecast for Berthoud Pass with 9 to 13 inches along Rabbit Ears Pass, the weather service said. Estes Park is expecting 6 to 9 inches of snow, with 5 to 8 inches in Winter Park.
On Wednesday night temperatures in northeastern Colorado will plummet to dangerously frigid levels with widespread winds chills below zero degrees. In Denver, the low temp will be near zero, with a wind chill value of -10 degrees. New snow accumulation in Denver on Wednesday night will be less than 1/2 inch, according to the weather service.
On Thursday morning, widespread temperatures across northeastern Colorado will be below zero, with winds chills bringing temperature values down to between -15 to -25 degrees. People are urged to stay indoors and limit time outdoors if you have to venture out.
In Denver on Thursday afternoon the high temperature will be near 25 degrees, with a wind chill value down to around -9 degrees. The overnight low will be 8 degrees under mostly cloudy skies.
Thursday afternoon into the weekend in northeastern Colorado, temperatures will be on the rise as the air dries out and winds calm down. The north central mountains, however, will see a daily chance of snow.
In Denver on Friday, skies will be partly sunny and the high temperature will top out near 38 degrees, according to the weather service. Saturday will be warmer still, with a high near 54 degrees under mostly sunny skies.
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