Colorado weather: First big mountain snow could bring double-digit accumulation Thursday night

Colorado’s first significant mountain snow is here, and several inches of accumulation is still expected to fall Thursday evening.

A cold front blew in Wednesday evening, bringing colder temperatures to the state and the possibility for over a foot of snow in some higher elevation areas of the mountains.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in place until 6 a.m. Friday for the event, and forecasters at the National Weather Service in Boulder warn mountain travelers the snow will bring hazardous conditions to some of the major highways through the mountains.

Snowfall accumulations from 4 to 14 inches in the mountains with highest amounts north of I-70. Winds gusts from 50 to 60 mph will be possible over portions of the eastern plains late this afternoon and tonight. #cowx pic.twitter.com/lXUe8YP93J

— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) October 12, 2023

Most mountain towns in the advisory, including Aspen, Granby and Breckenridge, are expected to get about an inch of snow. Vail could see three to four inches.

The higher areas with elevations above 9,000 feet are where the heaviest snow is expected, with up to 14 inches possible in the high country north of Interstate 70.

The central mountains could see up to 10 inches by Friday morning.

Reduced visibility due to blowing snow can be expected at times, along with slick conditions on major highways and passes, including Interstate 70, U.S. 40 and U.S. 34.

Snow rates Thursday could peak at an inch per hour, forecasters said, with possible higher rates in the northern mountains.

Some showers could come off the mountains into the urban corridor and the eastern plains rain, and cold temperatures could cause some snow to mix into the rain.

Denver has a 20% chance of rain showers with snow mixed in.

And in Denver, the first freeze is still on its way, with cold temperatures down to 31 degrees expected Friday night.