Denver's next storm system could bring 2 to 4 inches of snow through Friday (2024)

DENVER — Denver’s next snow chance arrives late Thursday into Friday bringing the possibility of a couple inches of accumulation or more while portions of Colorado’s mountain communities could see nearly a foot of powder by the weekend.

The Denver metro area is not under a winter weather alert, but a winter storm watch will go into effect starting Thursday morning for Colorado’s northern and central mountains.

After mild weather conditions in Denver on Wednesday, the next storm system will arrive in the metro first bringing a chance of rain on Thursday morning.

“We may see some wet roads early for the Thursday morning drive that will then clear up a bit and shift off to the east before we get another round moving in for the Thursday evening commute,” said Denver7 Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo. “Likely just wet roads at that point, but we may see some slushy conditions down south along the Palmer Divide.”

Overnight into early Friday is when Denver should see most of the accumulating snow. As of Wednesday, Denver’s potential snow totals by Friday afternoon could range between 2 and 4 inches, according to Hidalgo.

“We’re going to see most of our heavy snow through the northern Front Range mountains and the foothills west of Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins on Thursday late afternoon through Friday morning where we could pick up a good 6 to 12 inches through parts of Rocky Mountain National Park and Summit County will pick up some decent snow at the ski resorts.”

The winter storm watch for Colorado’s higher elevations goes into effect starting at 11 a.m. Thursday through at least 5 p.m. on Friday.

Heavy snow could make for difficult travel conditions through mountain passes and highways, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder.

Portions of Jackson, Larimer, Grand, Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit, Park and Douglas Counties are included in the winter storm watch.The NWS said in these communities “travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes.”

A winter weather advisory will also go into effect Thursday morning through Friday morning for Colorado's far northeastern counties for between 1 and 4 inches of snow, with the potential of up to 6 inches of "heavy wet snow" in some areas, according to the NWS

Check the latest Colorado winter weather alerts.

Thursday through Friday, Colorado’s plains could see between 1 and 4 inches of snow totals while the Palmer Divide could see snow accumulations ranging between 3 and 5 inches, according to the NWS.

“It’s not going to be a huge storm but it may be enough of a disruption to cause you a little bit of a headache Friday morning with about 2 to 4 inches of snow possible at lower elevations,” added Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson on the impact to the Denver metro area.

Denver's next storm system could bring 2 to 4 inches of snow through Friday (2)

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Denver’s high temperature will slide to 45 degrees Thursday to 32 degrees on Friday. Denver’s morning low temperatures on Friday morning will be around 25 degrees and then 22 degrees Saturday morning.

The good news is the storm system quickly rolls out of Colorado leaving behind a beautiful weekend for any outdoor plans.

Denver’s weather on Saturday shows clearing skies and a high temp of 50 degrees while Sunday warms up to nearly 60 degrees with sunny skies.

Denver's snowfall totals so far this winter season have lagged behind the normal totals, but blasts of snow in February have helped the metro rebound.

In February, Denver's official snow reporting station at Denver International Airport recorded 13.7 inches, which is above the 7.8 inches the city normally reports in February. That additional snowfall brought Denver to around 5 inches behind the normal cumulative total for this time in the winter season.

To view the Denver snowfall statistics infographics in fullscreen mode click this link.

Denver's next storm system could bring 2 to 4 inches of snow through Friday (3)

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Denver's next storm system could bring 2 to 4 inches of snow through Friday (2024)

FAQs

How much snow is expected near Denver, CO? ›

0" over next 8 days.

How many inches is considered a snow storm? ›

A winter storm event (heavy sleet, heavy snow, ice storm, heavy snow and blowing snow or a combination of events) is expected to meet or exceed local winter storm warning criteria in the next 12 to 36 hours. Criteria for snow is 7 inches or more in 12 hours or less; or 9 inches or more in 24 hours covering at least 50 ...

How much snow did the bomb cyclone in Denver get? ›

While the storm is pegged as a March 13 snowstorm, its effects lasted into the following days with school closures, power outages and snow. By March 14, 2019, Denver totaled 7.1 inches of snow and other places received over 20 inches.

How do you predict snow storms? ›

It starts with a wide network of observing systems such as satellites, Doppler radars and automated surface observing systems. Computer forecast models take this information and estimate what will happen next. Forecasters then use their experience to write and issue forecasts.

Does Denver get more snow than Colorado Springs? ›

thanks! Colorado Springs averages less snow than Denver (40.7 inches versus 53.8). You'll find more snow in the foothills For example, Evergreen which is close to Denver averages 83.6 inches. Below is a link that gives weather statistics for many Colorado towns.

How many inches of snow does Denver average? ›

In general, as you go the further east and northeast of the higher terrain, seasonal snowfall drops off dramatically. For example, the western and southwestern suburbs of Denver average between 65" to 70" per season while areas in and near DIA are around 47".

Is 2 inches of snow the same as 2 inches of rain? ›

How many inches of snow equals one inch of rain? On average, thirteen inches of snow equals one inch of rain in the US, although this ratio can vary from two inches for sleet to nearly fifty inches for very dry, powdery snow under certain conditions.

What was the worst blizzard in history? ›

The 1972 Iran blizzard, which caused 4,000 reported deaths, was the deadliest blizzard in recorded history. Dropping as much as 26 feet (7.9 m) of snow, it completely covered 200 villages. After a snowfall lasting nearly a week, an area the size of Wisconsin was entirely buried in snow.

What is the snowiest city on Earth? ›

With a population of almost 300,000 people the city of Aomori in Japan is known as the snowiest city in the world with an average of 312 inches falling every year - that's 26 feet of snow!

What was the worst snowstorm in Denver history? ›

1-5, 1913. The largest snowstorm in Denver history dates back over 100 years. Within less than a week, Denver totaled 45.7 inches of snow. According to the Denver Public Library, during this time, the entire streetcar system was stopped.

How much snow did Denver get in the blizzard of 82? ›

Three of the top 10 largest totals from snowstorms in Denver happened in December, including 23.8 inches of snowfall on Dec. 24, 1982, and Dec.

Has Denver ever had a hurricane? ›

Risk Factor has found no historic records of tornado events since 1955, or hurricane events since 1851 near Denver, but that doesn't mean this area has never been impacted in the past. To get information about severe wind events in this area, you can check with your local officials.

Can animals predict snow? ›

Can animal behavior be a reliable method for weather forecasting? While some animal behaviors may be linked to weather changes due to their sensitivity to environmental cues, they cannot replace modern meteorological methods for reliable weather forecasting.

What are signs that a blizzard is coming? ›

Blizzard WARNING: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or greater, plus considerable falling or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile, expected to prevail for three hours or longer.

How to predict if it will snow? ›

Learn how to set a barometer and how to read a weather map in order to track changing weather conditions for yourself. Typically, falling atmospheric pressure signals coming precipitation. If air temperatures are right, precipitation will fall as snow (typically between -2° and 2°C or 28° and 35°F).

Where in Colorado will get the most snow? ›

The snowiest city in Colorado is Crested Butte with an average snowfall of 216.6 inches, though this is debateble. The least snowy city in Colorado is Grand Junction with an average snowfall of 15.8 inches. March is typically the snowiest month in Colorado.

Is snowfall decreasing in Colorado? ›

“The variation year-to-year is pretty extreme. Just because in 2023 we had a substantial snowpack doesn't mean we're not on this long-term decline,” said Jeff Deems, co-founder of Airborne Snow Observatories. “There's a lot more below-average years these days than above-average.”

What is the coldest month in Denver? ›

Denver winters are quite mild

While it can get decidedly chilly sometimes, overall temperatures during the winter months are moderate. “Even the coldest month, December, has an average daily high temperature of 45 degrees, and days reaching 60 degrees are fairly common,” Wagner said.

Is Denver a good place to live? ›

Denver, Colorado, is often considered a desirable place to live for many reasons. It boasts a thriving economy, a diverse cultural scene, access to outdoor recreation in the nearby Rocky Mountains, and a generally high quality of life.

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