DENVER AND COLORADO FRONT RANGE — A warm and mostly dry Tuesday gives way to a significant pattern change beginning Wednesday as a cold front pushes into Colorado, bringing rain and mountain snow west of the Continental Divide and isolated strong thunderstorms capable of gusty winds, lightning, and hail along the dryline across the far eastern and northeast plains.
The pattern then turns progressively cooler and more active from Friday through the weekend and into next week with multiple chances for rain and snow across the region.
Warm Tuesday With 70s and 80s Before the Change Arrives
Tuesday April 21 brings widespread highs in the 70s and 80s across Denver and the Front Range with light winds of 5 to 15 MPH keeping conditions comfortable through the afternoon. A few extra clouds and light mountain sprinkles are possible but most areas east of the Divide stay dry through the day.
The eastern plains will turn notably windy after sunset as the low-level jet activates, producing gusts of 35 to 45 MPH through the overnight hours ahead of Wednesday’s cold frontal arrival.
Cold Front Triggers Snow and Thunderstorms Wednesday
Wednesday is when the pattern shifts meaningfully. Rain and high mountain snowfall develop west of the Continental Divide by afternoon into evening, with the northwest plateau potentially cold enough for snow late Wednesday night. Model data shows precipitation filling into western Colorado and southern Wyoming during the Wednesday afternoon and evening hours…