A strong weather system is forecast to move into the northern Rockies and Great Plains of the country this week. A major temperature drop is likely for Colorado on Thursday and Friday. Snowfall, with light accumulations are possible in our area as well. As of Monday's data and forecast, here are the main impacts that will be felt:
First Alert 5 Impacts
1. Cold temperatures will be felt Thursday, and are likely to drop through the day. Dress in layers and keep pets indoors.
2. We have medium confidence in the timing of this system. The current trend shows a gusty cold front arriving Wednesday overnight, with snow showers possible late morning to early evening on Thursday. Snow will move from the northwest to southeast.
3. We have low to medium confidence in snow accumulation. The mountains, Palmer Divide, and Raton Pass have the highest likelihood of accumulating, shovel-able snow. We still have uncertainty in accumulations for the Plains and lower terrain. We expect low totals, likely less than an inch.
4. Commute: As the forecast stands now, the morning commute Thursday in southern Colorado will be dry and windy. Snow picks up in Denver by late morning. The evening commute along I-25 from Denver and south may have periods of reduced visibility due to snowfall. Lingering icy spots are possible by Friday morning.
5. We have high confidence in a hard freeze Friday morning for most of the state. Temperatures will drop to the teens and 20s in low elevations, possibly to the single digits in the mountains. This will cause damage to outdoor vegetation.
