A look at the active wather pattern expected from Fri night into next week

03/27/25 9am: Don't be deceived by the warm summer like weather because we are not done with rain/snow and colder weather yet...in fact I see an active weather pattern shaping up starting this weekend into next week, from this Sat to next Sat (03/29 to 04/05) with several storms on tap. You know how CO rolls in spring time, its going to be a spring time rollercoaster!

The forecast continues to evolve for the weekend as models show a set of messy storms moving across the state, uncertainty remains high. It does now appear that Den/Bou and the front-range may get some significant precip this weekend (like 0.5" to 1.0" of liquid) but it could be mostly rain. Some snow for the mountains as well.

We are still looking at back-to-back waves: first weaker warmer wave will impact the state primarily from 6pm Fri to 8am Sat. Second, stronger storm system will impact the state from 3pm Sat through 12pm Sun.

For Den/Bou/Ft.Collins and the front-range

• Initially a chance for rain showers and weak thunderstorm from about 7pm Fri through 6am Sat. Best chances will be from Boulder north to Ft. Collins on Fri night. Foothills may get a little bit of snow late Fri night but looks like the snow line will be above 9kft (Trace-3" in spots for upper foothills).

• Then for Sat: a better chance for some rain and moderate thunderstorms from 3pm-11pm Sat (could be some heavy rain in spots). Then as colder air filters in from the north, likely rain/snow mix or all snow on the front-range from about 12am-9am Sun: Trace-3" of snow possible for lower elevations (Den/Bou/Ft.Collins, etc), and foothills may get 2-6" of new snow by Sun am

For the north-central / west-central mountains / I-70 mountain corridor:

• Rain/snow showers develop in the mountains after 5pm Fri, some snow / snow-showers from 6pm Fri through 9am Sat: 1-5" of new snow for the ski areas, favoring the front-range mountains locally (IPW/RMNP), also favoring parts of western CO near Steamboat, Flat Tops and areas near Aspen to CB

• Then a better chance for snow from 3pm Sat through 12pm Sun. Generally an additional 2-6" of new snow for the ski areas, with heaviest amounts near Steamboat / Park Range and Flat Tops also near Cameron Pass and northern RMNP as well

• Storm clears out after 12pm Sun

Looking ahead models show another short-wave for Mon night into Tue. This will bring another round of good snow to the mountains primarily from 10pm Mon through 6pm Tue (heaviest Tue morning). That wave will likely bring an additional 4-8"+ to the ski areas. Some rain showers for Den/Bou as well on Tue but not much (westerly downslope flow)

First image loop shows the evolution of the pattern via forecast 500mb vorticity / wind from now through next Fri from latest GFS. Second image shows forecast precip-type/rate and MSLP at 12am Sun. Image 3 shows total forecast liquid precip from now through 6pm Sun from latest GFS. Images 4 and 5 compare forecast total snowfall from GFS and ECMWF through 6pm Sun...take amounts with big grain of salt as details will change.