DENVER (KDVR) — It’s been unusually warm in Denver this winter, but the city is expected to potentially see one of its first rounds of snow in an incoming storm starting on Thursday.
After Denver saw its second latest first snow in the city’s history, along with Denver’s second warmest December on record, there have only been a few flakes so far this winter. The mountains have been struggling as well, with less than half the trails open at several resorts by the end of December.
This ski area received a foot of snow in the past 24 hours
However, that’s about to change with an incoming snowstorm later this week.
Timing
The Pinpoint Weather team expects the storm to start in the mountains on late Wednesday and arrive in Denver on Thursday morning. That snow from the mountains could turn to rain or sleet in the metro, depending on temperatures.
Thursday will be cloudy with light snow or rain throughout the day and highs near the 40-degree mark. There will be on-and-off precipitation in Denver throughout Thursday, which should wrap up in the metro and in the mountains by Friday morning.
The confidence in the forecast is fairly low during this storm because the Pinpoint Weather team said temperatures are hovering on the edge of freezing, meaning the storm could be rain or snow, which affects the expected totals.
Totals
Snow totals are up in the air due to the low confidence in temperatures. If temperatures hit the expected highs of 40 degrees on Thursday, the snow will change to rain. However, if the metro stays in the mid-30s, there could be up to 4 inches of snow.
The Pinpoint Weather team said there is a small possibility of an upslope event, and if the wind lines up just right, the Palmer Divide could get 12 inches or more. Stay up to date with the latest forecast, as these totals are subject to change.
What to expect
Thursday and Friday are Pinpoint Weather Alert Days due to the cold temperatures and potential snow causing a slow and slick commute both days.
Precipitation that could turn into snow on Thursday could bring high totals to Denver and cause a snowy or slippery commute home. Then, on Friday, the Pinpoint Weather team expects a slippery morning commute before Denver warms back up…