November 26th 2024.
As the sun rises on Tuesday morning, snowflakes begin to dance their way down from the sky, blanketing the picturesque mountains of Colorado. However, according to the National Weather Service, this is just the beginning of what is predicted to be a major Thanksgiving week storm.
Reports from the NWS indicate that the snowfall in the mountains has been light so far, but it is expected to pick up throughout the day and into the night. This increase in snowfall will create dangerous travel conditions for those driving along mountain roads and passes.
Ayesha Wilkinson, a meteorologist with the NWS office in Boulder, explains that the snow is expected to come down at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour, continuously throughout Tuesday night. This heavy snowfall will result in significant disruptions for travelers in the higher terrain and all mountain passes.
The NWS has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Tuesday, warning of the potential for moderate snowfall in the foothills and Palmer Divide area starting tonight. This will likely lead to deteriorating road conditions and should be taken into consideration when planning any travel.
Forecasters predict that the snow will continue in the mountains through Wednesday and then make its way to the metro Denver area and the Interstate 25 corridor around 2 a.m. However, they reassure that the impact on roads in these areas will be limited, with only a few inches of wet snow expected to accumulate.
According to the most recent forecasts on Tuesday morning, the expected snowfall totals are as follows:
- Up to 3 inches for Denver, Denver International Airport, Brighton, and Northglenn
- Up to 4 inches for Arvada, Broomfield, and Boulder
- Up to 5 inches for Aurora, Centennial, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and Littleton
- Up to 6 inches for Golden and Highlands Ranch
- Up to 7 inches for Parker
- Up to 8 inches for Castle Rock
In addition to this, the mountains are forecasted to receive an additional 2 to 3 feet of snow by the time the storm ends on Wednesday night. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has issued a warning for backcountry travelers, cautioning them about the dangerous avalanche conditions that this storm will bring.
The highest summit in Colorado's Elk Mountains, West Elk Peak, is expected to see the most snow with up to 55 inches of fresh powder between Tuesday morning and Thursday morning, according to NWS forecasters. Other mountain snow forecasts include up to 40 inches in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, especially in areas like Monarch Pass and Berthoud Pass, as well as in the lower Elk Mountains, including Ohio Pass, Kebler Pass, and Chair Mountain.
The Park Range, including Mount Werner, is expected to receive up to 37 inches of snow, while the White River National Forest and the San Juan Mountains, including Wolf Creek Pass and Coal Bank Pass, could see up to 31 inches. Vail Pass is expected to receive up to 26 inches, Winter Park up to 24 inches, Keystone up to 21 inches, and Eldora up to 20 inches. Breckenridge is forecasted to receive up to 16 inches of snow.
The Eastern Plains communities will see only a few inches or less of snow, and the storm is expected to subside around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, according to forecasters. However, a Winter Storm Warning is still in effect for areas above 9,000 feet until 5 p.m. Wednesday, and Winter Weather Advisories will begin for the foothills and areas south of metro Denver, including Castle Rock, around midnight Tuesday and remain in effect until midnight Wednesday.
While Thanksgiving Day is expected to be chilly with highs in the mid-30s across the Denver area, it will not come close to the coldest Thanksgiving in Denver's history. That record was set in 1919 with temperature highs in the negatives and overnight lows near -18 degrees.
After Thanksgiving, the cold and dry weather will continue through Saturday, with highs in the mid-30s across Denver and in the teens in the mountains. There is a chance of a few mountain snow showers on Friday night into Saturday, but otherwise, the weekend is expected to be warmer and drier.
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