A look at some details for the approaching (Wed/Thu) storm system

04/30/25 8:50am: Here is a look at some details for the approaching storm system which will impact the state from 3pm today through 9pm Thu (with biggest impacts late tonight into tomorrow morning). I am seeing a few changes.

Models show a bit of a weaker system overall, coming in two waves: one main wave tonight into early tomorrow morning and another wave from tomorrow mid-day trough the evening. Overall models show more of a front-range / upslope event with a bit less snow for the mountains (especially west of the Divide).

For the north-central mountains: rain/snow showers move in after 12pm today (initially snow-line above 10kft). Then a better chance for moderate snow from 7pm this evening to 6am tomorrow morning (snow-line dropping below 8500ft by Thu am). Then a break, then more snow showers from 11am-8pm Thu. During the day Thu, heaviest snow / snow-showers will be generally south of I-70 and over parts of south-central CO.

For the local mountains, generally looking like 2-6" of snow total for some of the ski areas / higher terrain and mountains passes, with highest amounts expected along/east of the Cont. Divide: Front Range mountains (Loveland, Berthoud, Winter Park, IPW, RMNP, etc with be favored).

For Den/Bou/Ft.Collins and the front-range weak thunderstorms develop over the northern front-range (closer to Ft. Collins) around 1pm today, then will spread south later in the afternoon (prior to 6pm focus will be from Boulder north). Models show a cold-front moving down the front-range after 6pm this evening. The main rain event will be from 7pm tonight through 4am Thu initially. Then a break. Then more rain / weak thunderstorms from 12pm-8pm (Thu looks pretty cloudy and unsettled)

The foothills above 7500k ft can expect some rain/snow or all snow Thu morning with Trace-4" in spots by Thu night (also a round overnight and another round tomorrow afternoon).

During the day Thu heaviest rain and thunderstorms will be across the southern front-range from the Palmer Divide south to Springs and Pueblo, especially 1pm-9pm (wet in spots over southern CO tomorrow).

Overall wind does not seem to be a big issue with this storm system. Some west/northwest wind-gusts of 15-30 over parts of the mountains both this afternoon and Thu afternoon (windiest over parts of the Front Range mountains above 10k ft).

Looking ahead another large storm system will impact CO from Sat evening through Tue morning (05/03 to 05/06): afternoon / evening rain/snow over the mountains on Sat night. Then a better chance for rain/snow across much of the state from Sun afternoon into Monday (might be spotty for the front-range, depending on storm track). Maybe a cold-front Monday.

First image loop shows forecast radar over the next 48hrs (6am this morning through 6am Fri) from latest HRRR. Image 2 shows forecast total liquid precip from now through 6am Fri from HRRR, images 3 and 4 shows forecast total snowfall from HRRR and NWS Blend of Models...take forecast liquid and snow amounts with grain of salt as it will be more spotty and uncertain with the convective nature of the rain/snow showers.