Another southern storm brings chance of light snow to forecast area

There is another pacific system that will bring changes to our weather this afternoon tonight. As has been the case most of this winter, however, this powerful (wet) storm will likely stay too far south to bring any kind of significant accumulation to the area. With that, snowfall predictions are ranging from about a dusting to 3 inches or 2 - 5 depending on who you listen to... Either way, no record-breaking March blizzard, that is for sure.

As we enter March, we enter one of the great transitional periods of the year. Known for rapidly changing weather, heavy snows, wind, rain, warmth, and cold... This week looks like it will live up to the roller coaster that pattern is March. After snow tonight, we could be looking at our first 60 degree reading in quite some time come Wednesday. By Thursday and Friday there may be another chance for snow.

By the numbers (src. NWS)...
- March is our snowiest month with 11.7 inches on average.
- Denver's snowiest March was in 2003, with 35.2 inches of snow recorded.
- Denver's wettest March was in 1983 with 4.56 inches of precip recorded.
- The driest? 0.11 inches in 1908
- The warmest temperature ever recorded in March was 84 degrees F in 1971
- Denver usually sees its first thunderstorm of the year in March.
- March 2009 was almost the driest March of all time... until the blizzard of '09 hit on the 26th dropping nearly 8 inches of wet spring snow.

Traditionally El-Nino years (like we are in right now) are very good to Denver if you like March snowstorms. Our last El-Nino March was in 2003, and we all know what kind of record breaking year that was. What does March 2010 have in store for us?

Quick shot of snow!

Snow showers have already moved into the region this afternoon, and before it's all said and done we could end up with a whopping --- 2 inches. Due to the scattered nature of this system, some areas may only pick up a dusting... while others may pick up a little more than two inches... Either way, should not be anything all that impressive.

Warmer for Friday and Saturday before another chance of snow moves in Sunday. This system is worth watching... While most models are keeping the heaviest snow well south of the forecast area, some are starting to hint at a more northerly track. If this trend continues over the next couple days, we could be looking at a decent Feb/March storm. Stay tuned!

Chance of snow

This will be no record breaking storm, but a chance of snow returns to the forecast tonight... and will really remain through the extended period. Our best chance for accumulating snow comes Thursday night, with 2 - 5 inches expected in town at this point. While the heaviest snow is expected to stay north of the city, there is a chance for heavier snow bands to develop, complicating the forecast, and creating the chance for locally higher amounts in the city. At this point there no weather advisories for the forecast area.

Cool and unsettled weather is expected to linger into the weekend. We are once again on the storm track... so stay tuned as any of these systems have the potential to bring us accumulating snow. This image from the National Weather Service says it all:

Weird Weather

This winter there has been no shortage of interesting weather stories running across the news ticker. While it has been rather uneventful here in Denver, blizzards in the Mid Atlantic, record setting snowfalls, rains out west, frigid temperatures in the deep south, record setting cold and snow in Europe... wild weather seems to be a common theme these days. Washington DC set an all time record for seasonal snowfall with 54.9 inches recorded so far this season. Even Denver, where we average about 60 inches each year, is about 10 inches above average with 45 inches so far this season - thanks to a few big storms many months ago. The latest? This article from National Public Radio that reports 49 states had snow on the ground yesterday - can you guess the one state that did not? Check out this picture of current snow cover (not including yesterday's snows in the south)!As for our forecast? Nothing, nothing, nothing worth writing about. A good chance of snow tonight and tomorrow - but total accumulation expected to stay under two inches. Highs will push back into the 50s by Tuesday before another chance for snow (albeit not a very good one) on Wednesday and Thursday. No big February blizzards on the horizon, but we are getting to that time of year when we can start expecting a decent storm to roll through at any time!

Okay so...

Maybe 3 - 6, even for us?? ! Snow already falling... should snow off and on through tonight.

Chance for light snow Sunday into Monday

What yesterday looked like 3 - 6 inches for Denver, now looks more like 1 -3. With the bulk of the energy passing well to our south (again), snowfall totals look to rely heavily on elevation with this system. Western and southern suburbs have the best chance at decent accumulation, with lesser amounts expected east. This ain't no "snowmageddon," that is for sure.

The image below shows watches and warnings south of the metro area (NWS).

Yet another powerful storm will likely skip Denver

In true El Nino fashion one storm after another has stayed far too south to have any effect on Denver's weather. The latest storm, that is now forming in the southwest, will bring heavy snows to areas south and east of the greater metropolitan area - then swing into the northeast threatening to slam parts of the Atlantic region with a storm very similar to the blizzard they saw in December. Forecasters at the NWS are predicting a "tricky" forecast over the next 24 hours for Denver, but chances for snow just do not look all that great. There is a chance for some snow bands to set up over Denver, especially tomorrow morning, but overall snow chances hover between 10 and 20% for the front range.
Another chance for snow this weekend, but again - nothing that looks all that impressive. Will just mention a chance of snow on Sunday for now, and wait to see if anything develops. Overall looks cool and unsettled over the next five days.