🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Boulder, Colorado, issued a map Tuesday morning that shows an approaching winter storm now threatens Boulder and the Palmer Divide in addition to Denver.
Denver is bracing for what could be the city's "biggest snowstorm of the season" as a late winter storm is threatening to bring up to 10 inches of snow by Friday. More weather changes are on the way. A storm system will bring snow and rain to the West, plunging temperatures in the central Colorado region to 37 degrees by Thursday, about 15 degrees below normal for this time of year.
"Wintry weather and blizzard conditions" could accompany the drop in temperatures, an AccuWeather report warned, and the map shared by the NWS office in Boulder shows where the warnings are located.
"Winter Storm Watch expanded to include #Denver, #Boulder, and Palmer Divide east to Limon. Increasing confidence in heavy snowfall and potentially significant travel impacts," NWS Boulder posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday morning. "Make alternative travel plans/avoid travel late Wednesday through Thursday night."
The map showed a winter storm watch in place for such areas as Estes Park, Boulder, Denver, Evergreen, Limon and just north of Colorado Springs. A winter weather advisory is in place for Veil and Aspen, and a winter storm warning is in place for a narrow area near Buena Vista.
NWS meteorologist Chad Gimmestad told Newsweek on Tuesday that the biggest concern with the storm is heavy snowfall.
The winter storm watch will remain in place for the mountains and foothills from 6 a.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Friday. The watch will remain in place for Interstate 25 and the Palmer Divide from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 p.m. Friday.
The NWS forecasts up to 12 inches of snow for the Denver and Boulder areas. As much as 2 feet of snow is expected for the Palmer Divide and the Front Range mountains and foothills.
Strong winds could cause travel disruptions with blowing snow. The NWS forecast warned that winds could gust as high as 45 miles per hour between 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday and 6 p.m. local time on Thursday in Rabbit Ears Pass.
"Travel could be difficult due to snow covered roads and reduced visibility," the forecast said.
If more than 5.5 inches of snow falls at Denver International Airport, the storm will go down as the "snowiest storm of the winter," AccuWeather said.
Most recently, Denver's largest snowfall occurred last month, when 5.5 inches of snow fell within 24 hours on February 3.
About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more