Snow continues to fall across Centennial communities during what could be the biggest event to affect Denver and Boulder in three years.
This powerful winter storm is the first in three years since Denver last saw a significant snowstorm, when the Mile High City saw well over 2 feet of snow during the March 14, 2021 storm. happen.
The FOX Prediction Center predicts snowfall totals will not be as high as the March 2021 storm, but more than a foot of snow is still expected to fall in Denver. In Boulder, the total could be even higher.
The western Rocky Mountains are expected to receive several feet of snow late Thursday and into Friday as the storm weakens.
In particular, travel on major highways such as Interstate 25, Interstate 70, and Interstate 80 is expected to be affected.
“Heavy, wet snow could make travel difficult or nearly impossible in parts of the Boulder-Western Denver suburbs-Monument Hill corridor,” the National Weather Service warned.
Delays and cancellations are expected at Denver International Airport (DEN) as the winter storm hits.
Ahead of the storm, Denver Public Schools officials announced all schools and administrative offices would be closed Thursday due to the weather.
The weight of heavy, wet snow could also cause trees and large branches to fall and fall on power lines, causing scattered power outages.
When does it start snowing in Denver?
Snow began falling in parts of Utah on Tuesday and spread to Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado and other states by Wednesday.
Interstate 70 in the mountainous suburbs of Denver was closed by Wednesday evening due to heavy snow and reduced visibility.
The snow will remain powdery in the mountains, but heavy, wet snow will fall in the Denver metro.
Snow will continue for most of Thursday and end by Thursday night.
However, snow is expected to continue falling in mountainous areas of southern Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona through Friday.
Is there a winter storm warning in place for Denver?
Winter weather warnings have spread to six western states, including Colorado, and the majority of winter storm warnings are in effect.
Denver, Boulder, Castle Rock, Georgetown and Colorado Springs are all under winter storm warnings, and cities like Aspen and Steamboat Springs are under winter weather warnings.
How much snow does it get in Denver?
The higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains are expected to receive the heaviest snowfall from this winter storm, but major cities in the region will also be affected by large amounts of snow.
The city of Denver is expected to receive 8 to 12 inches of snow, but due to varying elevations along the Front Range, widespread snow accumulation is expected across the Denver metro area.
“Totals will be even higher in the western suburbs,” said FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin. “So if you live in Littleton and Morrison and go up the hill country, you’re going to see a lot more than if you live in Aurora.”
Boulder may also be hitting the snow jackpot with this storm.
The NWS office in Boulder said up to 16 inches of snow could fall in the city of Boulder, as well as the western suburbs of Denver, and up to 20 inches could fall west of Interstate 25.
Mountain areas such as Golden, Morrison and Nederland could see 2 to 3 feet of snow.
This winter storm could have dumped up to 2 feet of snow in Idaho Springs.
