DENVER — Denver's potential snowfall from an upcoming strong winter storm has increased slightly, with 8 to 16 inches of snow possible across the metro area.
Denver residents are asked to prepare for heavy, wet snow that will continue to fall for an extended period of time, with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible.
A winter storm warning will be in effect for metro Denver starting Wednesday night, with traffic conditions expected to be poor during the day Thursday as snowfall increases and periods of heavy snow expected to last 18 to 24 hours. . According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder.
Localized snowstorms are possible, but wind gusts are expected to slow slightly and the impact of the snowstorm is expected to be minimal, although heavy, wet snow could cause broken branches, downed power lines, and power outages. A connection is likely, the NWS said in an update Tuesday afternoon.
“If you don't need to leave your house, Thursday is probably not the best day to go out,” said NWS Alert Coordination Meteorologist Greg Hebner.
NWS Boulder
It's still been more than 24 hours since the storm's effects began, and uncertainty remains about exactly how much snow will fall in Denver and across the state, but the NWS has warned of the impact on travel and the “huge amount of snow.” ' is 'highly likely to occur.' This storm is shaping up to be a typical March snowstorm. March is the snowiest month of the season.
After warm temperatures and sunny skies on Tuesday, Denver's weather will change to rain and then snow starting Wednesday afternoon.
The Denver metro area was initially under a winter storm watch, but due to heavy snowfall of 9 to 18 inches, the NWS upgraded the area to a winter storm warning that lasts from 9 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Friday. The winter storm warning includes Boulder, all of Denver, Parker, Golden, Arvada, Highlands Ranch, Longmont, Aurora, Littleton, Brighton and Lakewood.
Castle Rock is also under a winter storm warning for 14 to 24 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 40 mph, according to the NWS.
“Castle Rock could see nearly a foot of snow, and the mountains and foothills of the northern Front Range could see 1 to 3 feet of snow,” Denver7 meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo said. “Heavy snow fell west of Denver, from Fort Collins to Castle Rock.”
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A winter storm warning is in effect for Colorado's Front Range mountains and foothills starting at noon Wednesday, with the NWS predicting snow totals of 18 to 36 inches, with “isolated snow totals of up to 48 inches possible.” There is.
Forecasters expected the heaviest snow to fall on the eastern slopes of the Front Range, despite the potential for heavy snowfall and large amounts of snow in metro Denver and the Front Range.
Cities including Fort Lupton, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and Eaton will be under a winter storm watch starting Wednesday night for heavy snowfall ranging from 4 to 12 inches.
NWS Boulder
Denver Weather: Snow Timeline
Showers are expected to develop across the Denver area Wednesday afternoon in time for the evening commute.
“On Thursday, winds will shift from the northeast and we can expect rough conditions throughout the day. Rain will turn to snow throughout the day, with heavy snowfall in some areas,” Hidalgo said, adding that some delays and cancellations are expected on Thursday. It added that this could occur. “The snowfall totals are pretty impressive.”
The weather forecast for Denver on Wednesday is expected to be mostly rain at first, but then gradually switch to snow, with a forecast of “Wednesday night into Thursday night in the Front Range mountains, foothills, and Interstate 25.'' is expected to be difficult,” the NWS said.
NWS Boulder
Drivers faced snow-covered roads and dangerous travel along Interstate 70 from Lymon to Denver, through the Eisenhower Tunnel, and from Fort Collins south to Colorado Springs, the NWS said. People should be prepared for dangerous travel along Highway 25.
The NWS said the chance of a major March snowstorm decreases east and northeast from Denver through the Colorado plains.
This strong storm is expected to bring heavy, wet snow to some areas, but temperatures are not expected to drop below freezing.
NWS provides a probabilistic snowfall tool that shows low-end, predicted, and high-end snowfall amounts. Although the tool is “experimental,” the NWS says it provides a complete picture of possible snowfall totals.
The expected snowfall totals are:
- Downtown Denver: 12″
- Denver International Airport: 11″
- Boulder: 16″
- Georgetown: 24″
- Castle Rock: 20″
- Kiowa: 16″
- Winter Park: 32″
- Walden: 7″
- Lakewood: 17″
- Fort Collins: 7″
- Limon: 6″
- Sterling: 1″
- Fort Morgan: <1"
- Fair play: 13″
- Breckenridge: 12″
- Vail Pass: 15″
- Akron: 2″
- Greeley: 3″
- Alamosa: 7″
- Colorado Springs: 9″
- Durango: 3″
- Pueblo: 2″
- Trinidad: 7″
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Denver Weather in March: Snowiest Month, Snowstorms, Start of Spring
March 3, 2024, 7:50 a.m.
The seven-day forecast for Denver calls for a low Thursday morning of about 28 degrees and a high of about 35 degrees.
Friday morning low temperatures in Denver will be around 27 degrees.
Light rain fell from the morning on Friday, but the weather is expected to become sunny during the day, and temperatures are expected to gradually start to recover.
Denver is expected to see a mix of cloudy and sunny conditions Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures climbing into the low 40s and returning to the near 60s by Monday, with plenty of sunshine.
Denver's snowfall so far this winter season has been below normal snowfall totals, but heavy snowfall in February helped restore subway service.
In February, the city of Denver's official snow reporting station at Denver International Airport recorded 13.7 inches, which is higher than the 7.8 inches the city typically reports in February. This additional snowfall left Denver about 5 inches behind the normal total for this time of the winter.
According to NWS data, Denver typically receives 11.5 inches of snow in March, but if this storm dumps more than 12 inches of snow on DIA, the metro will officially reach normal snowfall for the month after just one storm. possible to reach.
Click this link to view Denver snowfall statistics infographics in full screen mode.
To help prepare for the storm, a Denver 7 Weather Action Day will be held Wednesday night. It continues!
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Denver weather links: Hourly Weather Forecast | Radar | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream
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