DENVER — Days after getting feet of snow, Colorado's mountains are in for another round of winter weather on Thursday.
A Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory are in effect for portions of Colorado's northern and central mountains for up to a foot of snow.
Colorado's high country could see more snow accumulations of 12 to 24 inches with higher amounts up to 30 inches possible, according to the National Weather Service. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph will produce whiteout conditions.
The Denver metro area, Front Range and eastern plains have a slight chance for snow as the cold front arrives Thursday, bringing much colder air for Friday.
However, the 9NEWS Weather team said that after the cooler Friday, the Denver area will warm into the low 50s by Sunday.
Denver Water has suggestions to help residents prevent pipes from freezing.
Tips to prevent frozen pipes
- Open cabinet doors underneath the sink to allow the household air to keep pipes warm.
- If there is an attached garage to the home, keep those doors closed. "Occasionally, plumbing is routed through this unheated space, leaving it vulnerable to winter's worst," according to Denver Water.
- Find the faucet furthest from where water enters the house and let it to drip slowly. Allowing water to move through the pipes will reduce the chance of water freezing. Set a bucket in the sink to collect the water that drips, so it can be saved for other household uses.
- Set the thermostat above 65° if you are leaving the house for multiple days.
What to do if a pipe is frozen
- If a pipe has already frozen, Denver Water said it is important to thaw the pipe immediately. Be sure to shut off the water to the house before starting to thaw the pipe; this will prevent any potential flooding if the pipe has been broken.
- Do not to use any high intensity heater such as a blow torch, as these can damage the pipes. The best practice is to use a hair dryer, or a space heater, to blow hot air into the area and thaw the ice inside the pipes. Pipes that are warmed too fast may break, according to Denver Water.
- Check the effected area for leaks after thawing to make sure the freeze didn't damage your pipes.
- If access to the frozen pipe is tricky, you do not have the proper tools or the pipe has broken, contact a plumber.
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