Winter Weather Whipping Up Across Southern and Central Rockies

A duo of storms is going to dump heavy snow across a large part of the central and southern Rockies in the coming days. At least one of these storms is forecast to creep into the Denver metropolitan area with meaningful snowfall accumulation. Here is what you need to know about this cold and snowy early November weather pattern.

Double Shot of Snow for the Rockies Through the Week

Two different storm systems will impact the Rocky Mountains this week. The zone that sees both storms could tally several feet of snow by the time that the system dissipates.

The first winter weather maker will push to the southeast through the Rockies late Tuesday and into Wednesday. This initial storm will bring in a surge of noticeably colder air along with measurable snowfall. The good news for the voters in Denver is that the flakes are not expected to begin to fly until after the polls close on Tuesday.

This first storm is predicted to move along at a fast clip, resulting in less accumulating snow. The Denver area is forecast to pick up no more than 3 inches out of the first blast. However, the higher terrains located south of the Mile High City could see widespread snowfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches by Wednesday.

Looking at the specific timing, the rain falling across Denver and its suburbs during the evening Tuesday will transition into snow overnight with about an inch of snow expected before the sun comes up Wednesday morning. About another inch may fall across the city on Wednesday morning before the system pushes through later in day. A high of 53 degrees on Tuesday will drop to the mid 30s on Wednesday. The coldest overnight low of the week will happen on Wednesday and into Thursday when the mercury slips into the low 20s.

The forecast is welcome news for the many ski resorts that dot the landscape of the Colorado mountains. A foot or greater of snow is in the forecast for many of these resorts, helping them to get a jump start on the upcoming winter sports season. For instance, Vail is forecast to see up to 3 inches during the day Tuesday with another potential 2 to 3 inches on tap overnight and into Wednesday. A high of just 30 degrees on Wednesday with cloudy skies will give the snow some staying power.

Motorists heading out on Interstate 25 in the zone from Pueblo to Trinidad, Colorado will want to be aware of the possibility of slippery roads. The greatest risk of travel will be late Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. In addition to snow-packed roads, motorists may encounter reduced visibility.