Snow is falling in Colorado’s mountains Tuesday morning, but the worst of the Thanksgiving week storm is yet to come, according to the National Weather Service.
NWS forecasters said mountain snowfall had been light overnight but is expected to intensify steadily throughout the day, causing hazardous travel conditions along mountain roads and passes.
Ayesha Wilkinson, a meteorologist with the NWS Boulder office, said snow is expected to fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour in the mountains through Tuesday night.
“Heavy mountain snowfall will lead to significant travel disruptions across the higher terrain and all mountain passes through tonight,” NWS forecasters said in a Hazardous Weather Outlook on Tuesday. “Moderate snowfall will also impact the foothills and Palmer Divide beginning tonight, with deteriorating road conditions.”
Snow will continue in the mountains through Wednesday, spreading to metro Denver and the Interstate 25 corridor around 2 a.m., forecasters said in the outlook.
Depending on overnight temperatures, Denver and the surrounding area could see a few inches of wet snow accumulate, but forecasters said road impacts will be limited.
According to Tuesday morning forecasts, total expected snowfalls include:
Up to 3 inches of snow for Denver, Denver International Airport, Brighton and Northglenn;
Up to 4 inches of snow for Arvada, Broomfield and Boulder;
Up to 5 inches of snow for Aurora, Centennial, Lakewood, Colorado Springs and Littleton;
Up to 6 inches of snow for Golden and Highlands Ranch;
Up to 7 inches of snow for Parker;
Up to 8 inches of snow for Castle Rock;
The mountains are also expected to see 2 to 3 more feet of snowfall by the time the storm wraps up Wednesday night, according to NWS snow forecasts. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center warned backcountry travelers that the storm will bring dangerous avalanche conditions.
The most snow is forecast for West Elk Peak, the highest summit in Colorado’s Elk Mountains, which could see up to 55 inches of fresh snowfall between Tuesday morning and Thursday morning, NWS forecasters said.
Other mountain snow forecasts include:
Up to 40 inches in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, especially along Monarch Pass and Berthoud Pass;
Up to 40 inches in Colorado’s lower Elk Mountains, including Ohio Pass, Kebler Pass and Chair Mountain;
Up to 37 inches in Colorado’s Park Range, including Mount Werner;
Up to 31 inches in White River National Forest;
Up to 31 inches in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, including Wolf Creek Pass and Coal Bank Pass;
Up to 26 inches along Vail Pass;
Up to 24 inches in Winter Park;
Up to 21 inches in Keystone;
Up to 20 inches in Eldora;
Up to 16 inches in Breckenridge.
Eastern Plains communities will see a few inches or less of snow, and the storm is expected to wrap up across the state around 11 p.m. Wednesday, forecasters said.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for areas above 9,000 feet until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Winter Weather Advisories will start for the foothills and areas south of metro Denver, including Castle Rock, around midnight Tuesday and remain in effect until midnight Wednesday, according to NWS forecasters.
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Though Thanksgiving will be cold, with highs in the mid-30s across the Denver area, it comes nowhere near the coldest the holiday has been in the metro.
The coldest Denver Thanksgiving, a record set in 1919, saw temperature highs in the negatives with overnight lows near -18 degrees.
Cold, dry weather will continue through Saturday after Thanksgiving, with temperature highs forecast in the mid-30s across the Denver area and in the teens across the mountains.
A few mountain snow showers are possible Friday night into Saturday, forecasters said. Otherwise, warmer and drier weather is expected through the weekend.
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