Fire and ice across Colorado within just 24 hours
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DENVER, CO (KMGH) — Soak it in because mother nature is about to pull a 180 across Colorado. We’re looking at high fire danger across much of the state today ahead of what is likely to be a couple inches of snow and possible record-breaking low temperatures on Thursday and Friday.
Red flag warnings are in effect across most of the mountains and foothills today, as well as the plains east of the mountains in the southern half of the state. Conditions will be worst along and north of Interstate 70 on Tuesday and along and south of the interstate on Wednesday.
Relative humidity could fall as low as 10% in those areas. Combined with southwesterly winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour, with gusts up to 30 miles per hour at lower locations and up to 55 miles per hour on mountain passes, fire danger is high ahead of the incoming cold front.
On Wednesday night, the cold air will move into the state from the north and push temperatures below freezing. We’ll see a few rain showers first and then the rain will turn to snow by early Thursday morning.
Models show the heavier snow could reach the Denver metro area either on Thursday morning or around noon on Thursday.
While the varying models show a range of snow totals, the National Weather Service said Tuesday morning that the Front Range Urban Corridor and Palmer Divide should expect between 2 and 5 inches of snow; people on the plains should expect a trace to 2 inches; those in the foothills are looking at 4 to 8 inches; and people in the mountains should expect between 6 and 12 inches. The National Weather Service said trees that have not gone dormant and already lost their leaves could suffer broken branches.
As the snow moves out on Thursday afternoon, bitter cold and wind will move back in as skies clear overnight into Friday. Denver’s forecast low is in the teens and could break the record low for Friday of 22 degrees, set in 1946.
But the chilly weather won’t stick around too long. Highs this weekend in Denver will be back into the 60s. Mostly sunny and mild for the Broncos game on Sunday!
Stay with the Denver7 weather team for the latest forecasts and up-to-date weather information.
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