Winter storm impacting much of Colorado

Snow showers moving over Loveland Pass this morning (2/9/13)

A potent storm system is moving across Colorado today, with many ski areas around the state expected to pick up good snow totals.  The system is rather complex, as snow bands are forming over the eastern plains this afternoon, with blizzard warnings in effect for northeast Colorado.  However, the Front Range metro area will mostly sit in a "dry slot" between the mountains and the plains, and only light snowfall totals are expected.  A round of snow passed through the metro area earlier this afternoon, with light accumulations falling over Denver.  Snow should pick back up again this evening with a couple of inches possible, but the heavier snow will fall farther east of the city.  Farther north, Cheyenne should see a couple of inches and Laramie could see as much as half a foot.  Due to downsloping winds (i.e. dry winds) off of the Cheyenne Ridge (between Cheyenne and Ft. Collins), Ft. Collins will likely see very little snow.  Winds from Ft. Collins to Cheyenne to Laramie will be very brisk tonight, which could make for some low wind chills.

Denver/Front Range Cities and Foothills

Because of where the circulation of the system is located, the foothills are going to see less snow than the plains.  Usually the higher elevations of the foothills cause the moist air to rise quickly and drop more precipitation, but most of this storm's energy is going to be too far east.  Some areas on the northeastern plains could see as much as a foot of snow in the heavier bands, and with strong winds, blizzard like conditions will exist.  Travel along I-76 into Nebraska is not recommended tonight.  4-12" are possible in Northeast Colorado, 3-5" around Limon and points east, and 6-12" in central and eastern Wyoming.

Much colder temperatures have reached the Front Range corridor today, and this trend will continue for the next few days.  Another round of snow is possible on Sunday night, with areas farther south, such as Colorado Springs, expected to pick up more snow, while points from Denver north may not see much in the way of accumulations.  A slight shift in the storm track could change things, though, so it's worth keeping an eye on.

As for temperatures, we'll see generally be in the upper teens tonight and the mid 30's tomorrow across the metro area.  Tomorrow night, the next system will pull in colder air, so we'll see temperatures drop to near 10 in the city, with single digits in both the foothills and the eastern plains.  After a cold Monday, temperatures will warm to near 50 by Wednesday, before falling again later in the week as the next system moves in.

Mountain Snow

The storm system is moving across central Colorado, so most mountain areas should receive good snow out of this system.  Who gets the most snow will by and large be determined by where the heaviest bands set up.  A round of heavy snow showers moved through the mountains earlier today, and tonight more steady snow should fall for most areas.  Some areas could receive as much as a foot, and most ski areas will likely see at least half a foot of new snow.  Some of the heaviest snow will fall along the eastern side of the Wind River Range in Wyoming (once winds switch to easterly farther north), where up to two feet are possible.  Another storm system moves in on Sunday night, with the San Juans likely to be favored with possibly significant snowfall.  Other areas across the mountains should receive light totals.

Here are some of the general forecasted snow totals through Sunday:

• Front Range Mountains - 6-12"
• Gore Range - 8-14"
• Summit County - 6-10"
• Vail - 6-12"
• Steamboat - 6-10"
• Aspen - 6-12"
• Crested Butte - 7-14"
• Telluride - 6-14"
• Silverton - 8-16"
• Wolf Creek - 6-12"
• Sawatch Range - 5-10"

Temperatures have cooled significantly in the mountains after a mild day Friday in the valleys.  Tomorrow, base area (valley) temperatures will range from the upper teens to low 20's, before falling to near zero in many areas tomorrow night.