Snow arrived in Colorado’s mountains Saturday, and temperatures in the state are falling, according to the National Weather Service. The heaviest snowfall is forecast for the southwest, where up to 11 inches (about 28 cm) could fall, according to the Denver Post.
A cold front has been moving across the state since Saturday. By Monday morning, most peaks are forecast to see snow accumulation of 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10 cm). The exception is the San Juan Mountains in the southwest, where about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) could fall.
Forecasters put the likelihood of that scenario at 80%. There is also a less likely scenario, with a 10% chance. It would bring snowfall of 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm) across most of the state’s mountains, and 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) on some peaks.
Even under that scenario, the impact on most residents would be limited. The Front Range metropolitan area is expected to avoid snow entirely, and the I-70 corridor will get a few inches at most.
According to an OpenSnow forecast, most ski slopes in the state will get 3 to 9 inches (8 to 23 cm) over five days, with snowfall concentrated in the southwest. Pivotal Weather maps, meanwhile, indicate that about 23 inches (58 cm) of snow could accumulate in the southwest after three successive waves of precipitation.
Statewide snowpack stood at about 73% of normal on Nov. 13. The southwest is getting noticeably more snow this season than the rest of Colorado. People heading into the mountains should check current NWS advisories and road conditions.
Source: Denver Post
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