Two weekend storms bring cold and snow back to Colorado – CBS Denver

DENVER (CBS4) – Colorado’s Front Range will enjoy one final day of much warmer-than-normal temperatures before a double onset of winter hits for the weekend.

Most of the urban corridor will hit the upper 60s to nearly 70 degrees on Friday under mostly cloudy skies before cooler air gradually moves in from the northwest.

(Source: CBS)

Southeastern Colorado is getting even warmer, which is one of the reasons a red flag warning is in effect through 8 p.m. Friday due to high fire danger in the state’s southeastern quadrant. The Palmer Divide including Castle Rock, Franktown and Elizabeth in Douglas and Elbert counties is also included in the Red Flag Warning.

(Source: CBS)

The CBS4 weather team has issued a first alert weather day for both Saturday and Sunday due to rain, snow and much colder temperatures this weekend in Colorado.

But because temperatures have been warm for so long over the past week, the initial cold front that hits Denver and the Front Range late Friday may not bring temperatures cool enough for snow right away. As a result, it will initially rain Friday night through early Saturday morning in most elevations, including the Denver metro area, before turning to a mixed rain and snow mix at dawn on Saturday. The mountains will get all the snow from Friday night through Saturday.

(Source: CBS)

Saturday will also be at least 30 degrees colder than Friday in most areas. Sunday will be another 10 degrees colder than Saturday with 20 degrees all day around Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins.

(Source: CBS)

The second winter storm to hit Colorado this weekend will hit Sunday night. Between the storms, much of Colorado, including the mountains, will get a break from widespread snow during the afternoon and evening hours Saturday. Then, when the second storm arrives, snow will be widespread again Saturday night through Sunday night, and this is the time frame that Denver and the Front Range will experience the most significant accumulation.

At this point, the metro area is expected to get no more than 1 inch of slush Saturday during the day, then up to 1 inch of snow accumulation Saturday night, followed by 1-3 inches of snow Sunday and another 1-3 inches of snow Sunday night . So the total over about 48 hours should be 2 to 6 inches for most boroughs in Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins. The west faces of Boulder and Golden and the foothills may have slightly higher volumes.

(Source: CBS)

In the mountains, most of the state’s ski areas will get 10 to 20 inches of snow Friday night through Sunday night. Most mountain towns will get less, but there will be enough snow for widespread delays and possible road closures depending on the accident. This includes the mountain corridor I-70 between Georgetown and Avon.

Snow will mostly end by Sunday evening, but persistent light snow showers or flurries are possible until Monday morning, especially in the mountains. Then drier weather returns for Tuesday before another series of storms hit Colorado from Wednesday. Denver and the Front Range also appear to be getting extremely cold again by the end of next week, with sub-zero temperatures possible.