DENVER — Months of summer-like weather in Colorado ends this weekend with feet of snow in the forecast, along with rain and cooler, autumn-like temperatures.
A slow-moving storm system will bring chances of accumulating snow back into Colorado this weekend, especially over the high mountain passes in the southwest part of the sate.
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday to Sunday at 12 p.m. for the San Juan Mountains. Heavy is snow possible with total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 feet possible above 9,000 feet. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
The National Weather Service said travel in southwest Colorado could be very difficult to impossible as roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous.
The 9NEWS Weather Impact team is also tracking rain showers and colder temperatures along the Front Range, eastern plains and Denver metro area on Friday and Saturday.
The storm system is forecast to bring rain showers to the Denver metro area with high temperatures in the low 60s on Friday and low 50s on Saturday in Denver. The high temperature on Saturday may not break 50 degrees on Saturday.
If the current models hold, rain showers will gradually spread across the Front Range Friday afternoon, with the bulk of the widespread rain showers likely beginning Friday evening or Friday night and lasting into the day on Saturday.
Expect a cold and dreary day on Saturday with lows in the middle 30's. The first freeze is not in the forecast for Denver, but it may come very close. Snow accumulation also remains very unlikely in Denver.
As the storm system exits the area on Sunday, a few isolated showers will be possible on the Front Range but lots of sunshine and warmer temperatures will greet us to start the next workweek.
Denver forecast
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy, windy and mild, high 75. Partly cloudy overnight, low 48.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy and cooler, with afternoon rain showers, high 60. Cloudy with showers overnight, low 37.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy and chilly, with scattered showers, high 51. Mostly cloudy overnight, low 39.
SUNDAY: Isolated showers possible at times, high 61. Partly cloudy, low 42.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny and seasonal, high 71. Partly cloudy, low 44.
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny and seasonal, high 75. Partly cloudy, low 45.
