DENVER — An arctic cold front will impact millions across the United States and Colorado this week, with much of the West under some weather alert.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Winter Storm Warnings, High Wind Warnings, Blizzard Warnings, Winter Weather Advisories and High Wind Watches across Colorado.
The winter weather will impact Colorado's high country beginning late Tuesday afternoon and continuing into early Thursday morning.
Several schools, businesses and offices across Colorado are on delayed start, remote start or closed on Wednesday due to snow and windy conditions.
Hundreds of flights have been canceled or delayed at Denver International Airport (DIA) on Wednesday. Travelers should check their flight status before heading to the airport Wednesday.
In the Denver metro area, rain and snow showers will begin late Tuesday night until the arctic front swings across Colorado. Look for all snowfall by early Wednesday morning and it will continue throughout the day. The Denver metro area will most likely see 2 to 6 inches of fresh snow.
Higher totals are likely north and west of Denver, including Boulder and Fort Collins and the foothills of Boulder and Larimer counties. That's where 6 inches or more of snow looks likely, with some 10 inch totals likely in a few areas.
Both of the Wednesday rush hours could be heavily impacted by this storm, but the highest impacts in the Denver area will likely be for Wednesday morning's commute.
A burst of heavier snow looks likely to move through the metro area just before or during the morning commute, making travel hazardous. On top of that, a little rain or ice might fall earlier, quickly changing over to snow, adding a little layer of ice underneath the snow.
Winter weather in Colorado
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for much of the Western Slopes and mountain areas of Colorado for 1 to 2 feet of new snow, along with 60+ mph wind gusts.
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for the Front Range foothills and northern/western metro suburbs for 4 to 8 inches of new snow.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for parts of the Interstate 70 mountain corridor like Vail, Aspen and Snowmass for 5 to 10 inches of snow.
Blizzard conditions will be possible along Wolf Creek Pass from 5 p.m. Tuesday until 5 a.m. Thursday. Widespread blowing snow will make travel difficult to impossible during this timeframe.
FORECAST: Full forecast
CLOSURES: Full list of closures
ALERTS: Latest Colorado weather alerts
Once this storm moves out Thursday, we'll be left with bitter cold temperatures. Look for sub-zero overnight lows and highs struggling to get into the lower 20s Thursday afternoon.
Warmer, drier and sunnier weather returns this weekend along with highs in the low 50s.
WEATHER LINE 9: Updated weather info at 303-871-1492.
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