Thornton and Denver are preparing for what will be its biggest snowstorm of the season today as the National Weather Service has now issued a Blizzard Warning for all of eastern Colorado.  The major storm we had been watching in recent days is now arriving over the Front Range and snow is starting to fall and will become widespread by 7:00am.  Initially the snow will melt as it hits the ground but as it gets heavier, it will begin to accumulate.

• Click here for details on the Blizzard Warning
• Click here to view the ThorntonWeather.com radar

March is our snowiest month and this is setting up to be a classic late winter / early spring storm with lots of Pacific moisture and a Canadian cold front dipping down from the north.  Winds are now starting to come out of the east and northeast providing the required upslope conditions that will slow the storm down and hold it over the Front Range.

Between noon and about 9:00pm the snow will be at its heaviest as will the wind which will cause significant drifting and road travel will become treacherous – the afternoon rush hour is almost certainly going to be a big mess.  Road closures are likely to happen at some point later today, particularly south and east.  Areas along the Palmer Divide, the foothills and the south metro area will have the most snow with lower amounts as you move north.  The Denver metro area can look for snowfall totals between 8 and 16 inches while there could be up to two feet of snow in areas south and west.

Remember, a Blizzard Warning means that severe conditions are expected and winds can gust in excess of 35 mph coupled with significant snowfall.  Visibilities may be reduced to a quarter of a mile or less and travel will be extremely dangerous and is discouraged.  Be sure you are prepared if you do travel and should you get stranded, stay with your vehicle – do not head out and seek help!  Going through these storms is always a major task.  We ask that you please be careful if you are on the roads and if you have folks in your area that need a bit of help digging out, lend them a hand.

Since January, Denver has had 15% of its normal precipitation and for the snow season we are at a mere 41%.  While the snow will be troublesome, we are truly in need of moisture so this is a welcome sight in some respects.

The major winter storm we have been tracking for the last couple of days continues on its path toward Denver and the Front Range and before it is over, Denver could see more than a foot of snow.  The latest computer models indicate the storm is coming a bit further north than previously thought which increases the changes for what will be a very significant snow event for us. 

Snow in the mountains tonight will begin to spread to Denver and the Front Range Thursday morning and it will last through Thursday evening and beyond.  Highlighting the significance of the storm, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning (see below for text of warning) for all of northeastern Colorado including Denver. 

The NWS is forecasting snow totals from 8 to 15 inches for the metro area (see image below) and from 1 to 2 feet along the Palmer Divide.  I think that may be a bit optimistic myself but there is little doubt we are in for our biggest storm of the snow season.  Areas south and west like Highlands Ranch, Parker and Golden will almost certainly experience the most snow in the metro area.  See the image below for potential snow totals.

Continue reading Major storm continues on path, Denver could get 12+ inches of snow →

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Denver and much of northeastern Colorado in anticipation of a significant storm now approaching the state.  The warning takes the place of the previously issued watch and signifies the increased potential for a major snow event.  The warning goes into effect at 6:00am Thursday morning and runs through 6:00am Friday.

Computer models are beginning to coalesce around solutions that involve snow amounts that could exceed a foot along the Palmer Divide and the foothills.  Snow will begin falling in the foothills in the morning and by midday will encompass the entire Front Range.  By the time the storm ends, much of the metro area will have in excess of six inches of snow.  Tomorrow afternoon’s commute is almost certainly going to be a rough one.

The spring snowstorm could be our biggest storm to date for the 2008 – 2009 winter season.  We are desperately in need of moisture so while it may be troublesome, we really need the precipitation. 

Click here to get all the details on our warning page.