Big changes on the way!

After an extended period of temperatures in the 70s and 80s, cold weather is once again barreling towards the state. It appears that some good moisture is associated with this system, and with that have introduced a good chance of precipitation tonight through early Thursday. Precip should stay mostly in the form of rain for the greater Denver area, but moderate snowfall is forecast in the foothills immediately to our west. Temperatures may cool just enough early Wednesday for snow in Denver - but do not expect much of anything. As for temperatures... highs Wednesday will struggle to reach 50 in the city, but will quickly rebound by Thursday. Highs should be hovering around 70 as we head into the weekend.

Unsettled week ahead

The going forecast for this week calls for a chance of showers about every 24 hours and cooler temperatures. The first, and possibly best, chance for rain comes overnight tonight. The associated cold front will drop highs into the 50s for Tuesday. By Wednesday another slight chance of showers is introduced, and again Friday into the weekend. Will wait on the later days to see if anything comes of these systems, for now they look light and disorganized.

West of Denver is bracing for more heavy Spring snow tonight, with many of the northern and central mountains looking at upwards of a foot and a half of snow. Rain and snow will be intermittent throughout the week for them as well.

Much needed moisture?

Finally a chance for rain and snow across Colorado over the next 24 hours. Scattered rain showers have already popped up in and around the Front Range, with heavy snow being observed in many mountain locations. I think temperatures will stay too warm for snow in Denver, but scattered rain showers and even rain mixed with snow seems likely overnight and into the day Thursday. Foothills to the west of town appear to be in line for some decent accumulation overnight as temperatures are expected to be cold enough for snow above about 6,000 feet, about 5 - 10 inches expected there. Further west even more snow is forecast.

Temperatures look to remain on the cool side through the period, but things should dry out a bit for a least the first half of the weekend (good news for baseball fans!).

Another storm system likely to leave Denver wanting more

High winds and low humidities will create extreme fire danger this afternoon across most of eastern Colorado in advance of our next cold front due later this evening. Unfortunately, this system once progged to give us a decent chance for rain and snow now looks like it won't bring much in the way of either. Cooler temps for Sunday? Yes. Chance of rain and snow? Yes. Downright cold and heavy precipitation? No. The mountains and eastern plains are expected to do much better than the Front Range as downsloping winds will likely hinder pricip amounts in the city.

Monday and Tuesday highs will once again climb into the 60s under clear skies. Another system is due in sometime Wednesday bringing us another shot of cooler air and unsettled weather. Won't hold my breath on this one either.

Cooler for the weekend

After a week of spring-like temperatures, things will start to cool just a bit going into the weekend. The next several days will remain nice, but we should top out in the 50s rather than the mid to upper 60s. Saturday night a secondary cold front will come racing through the region and drop our temperatures even further with highs only expected in the 30s and 40s for northeast Colorado. Will introduce a slight chance of snow (20%) during the Saturday night/Sunday time frame. At this point it looks like most of the accumulating snow will be restricted to the mountains through the period.

Snow back in the forecast

The mountains have the best chance for snow over the next few days, but even Denver will see a chance of the white stuff before the week is over. Today and tomorrow will remain warm on the plains with downsloping winds in place. Snow will increase in the mountains through the day today, and continue through tomorrow.

Denver will have a slight chance of showers tomorrow and tomorrow night... but our best chance for snow will come sometime Wednesday. A cold front dropping out of Wyoming Wednesday afternoon could give us enough upslope for a few hours of snow. It is only a 20% chance right now, but according to the National Weather Service models are trending more and more towards a quick shot of snow with this system.

As for temps... After another warm day today, and even tomorrow, look for temperatures to fall back into the 40s and 30s for the rest of the week.

The Great Wall

System after system continue to pummel the mountains with snow. There seems to be an invisible wall that prohibits any of that moisture from making it just an hour east into Denver. While many mountain locations (especially west facing slopes) are bracing for upwards of SIX FEET snow by Tuesday, Denverites are starting to wonder if we will ever see snow again. Officially we have only seen about 2 inches of snow this season, with many neighborhoods in town not even seeing that much. While we are already flirting with the driest December on record, pretty soon we may very well be talking about the driest winter on record.

It does not look like we will have a white Christmas this year, breaking a streak of four years in a row. There is a slight chance of snow Monday (only 10%), but otherwise this last week before Christmas looks nothing short of uneventful.

Bottom line is there have been plenty of storms pushing onshore this winter but the storm track just isn't favorable for Denver. Often La Nina means not only a milder winter for Denver, but a delayed onset as well. Let's hope for the latter, and as we head into the new year maybe the mountains will share a little of the white stuff with us.

Current weather from the Weather Channel shows an incredible amount of moisture pouring into California, and will feed heavy snows in the Colorado Mountains over the next several days.

Finally Fall?

Today's cooler weather reminded us that it actually is fall and not mid summer. Temperatures have finally started to moderate, and will continue to cool into the weekend. Overall expect highs in the 60s and 70s through the period, with lows dipping into the lower 40s at times.

Early next week the mountains could see their first snowfall of the weekend. A front coming in Monday night is expected to bring some cold air with it which could lower the snow level to the immediate foothills to our west. A chance of rain and cool temperatures are all the is expected for the Denver area.

Mountain Snow

Another system is bringing another much needed round of snow to the high country. Many mountain locations north of I-70 could be measuring this storm in feet before it is all said and done. For the plains, not so much. Today, however, will be noticeably colder than yesterday, with highs struggling to make it out of the 40s. Some rain and snow showers may drift off the foothills today and tonight - but would not expect anything in terms of accumulation. By later in the week the 60s will return, with 67 degrees predicted for first pitch of the Rockies' Home Opener!