Forecast details for the approaching storm: some snow in the high mtns Thu am to Sat am

09/10/25 8:20am: Alright lets focus in on some details for the approaching storm system. Biggest impacts in terms of rounds of rain and thunderstorms for the mountains (and some snow above 12,500ft) will be from 6pm tonight (Wed) through 6am Sat coming in multiple waves, favoring southwest CO.

Thursday and Friday are looking like the most active weather days / wettest days, so heads up there, not going to be great conditions to climb big peaks in the mountains on Thu and Fri.

Looking at first round of rain and thunderstorms for much of the mountains from 6pm tonight through 11am Thu initially, with some rain (and snow up high overnight), favoring San Juans to Elks, but north-central mtns (near Summit co. etc) will get in on the action as well, especially early Thu am.

Then likely the wettest conditions across the state, including the front-range will be from 2pm Thu through 11pm Fri evening (likely going into Sat am). Rounds of rain and thunderstorms especially for the mountains, favoring southwestern CO, snow above 12,500ft. Less precip for Den/Bou and the front-range urban corridor but still some.

For Den/Bou and the front-range today just isolated storms from 3pm-9pm, best chances in the foothills and along the Palmer Divide. Better thunderstorm chances expected tomorrow: 12pm-11pm, multiple rounds (best chances after 3pm). Another good chance on Fri afternoon: 12pm-9pm again (but more scattered variety compared to the mtns).

For the north-central and south-central mountains today most of the thunderstorm action will be over southwest CO initially: San Juans to Elks (2pm-9pm). After 9pm much better chances for the north-central mtns from Aspen north across Summit/Grand counties etc and that rain will continue into Thu mid-morning.

Then more rounds of rain and thunderstorms for the mtns from 2pm Thu through 11pm Fri, heaviest precip will be from Vail west and south and favoring the Elks to San Juans as I mentioned

As I show on the third image a chances for snow up high on each night: late Wed night into Thu am, Thu night into Fri am and again Fri night into early Sat am.... parts of the upper western San Juans and Elk Range (between Aspen and CB) could get 2-7" above 12,500ft. For rest of the mtns like Sawatch / Collegiate range, Ten Mile range, parts of Gore and Front Range mtns may get 1-3" of snow at times (above 12,500ft), best chances for northern mtns will be Thu into Fri and again Fri night into Sat.

First image loop shows forecast radar over the next 48hrs (6am this morning through 6am Fri, doesn't show last part of the event). Second image shows forecast total liquid precip from now through 6am Fri from latest HRRR (doesn't include Fri afternoon into Sat am). And third image shows forecast total snowfall from now through Fri am (again doesn't include last part of the event).

Last quick note (that I'll post about more later). As the group rules mention, don't post specific travel related weather questions (for your trip) to the group (that would get out of hand if we allowed that for everyone). Instead you can DM me with your specific weather related, travel / camping questions along with a nice donation and Ill answer your questions.