Forecast for the end of the week / weekend. Quick hitting storm Fri to Sun

10/01/25 8:30am: Happy October 1st! October is the month where the mountains transition from fall to winter and the front-range transitions from summer-fall to true fall-like conditions (with a chance for some snow at times, but also warm in-between). I usually ski by the end of October, which gets me stoked for winter.

Anyway, the storm system for Fri night into Sun is still on track for the most part with just a few small changes. Overall its not going to be a big storm in terms of rain/snow for most of CO since the best moisture and lift will be quickly shunted to the northeast of CO by Sat pm. But still some rain/snow and a cold-front for the front-range on Sun into Mon.

Some main points

• Warm before the storm today and especially Thu and Fri.... Fri will be really warm (mid-80s for Den/Bou, 60s in the mountains). It will also be turning windy at times from Thu afternoon through Fri afternoon

• Storm comes in with strong southwest flow initially on Fri evening. Some rain moves into the San Juans by 9pm Fri with rain/snow overnight into Sat am (snow-level generally above 11k into Sat am). Some heavier precip in the San Juans Sat am, with rain through about 2pm Sat (Trace-3" of snow in spots above 11k by Sat mid-day)

• Then a batch of rain/snow will move across the north-central mountains on Sat between 9am-6pm, favoring the Front Range mountains by Sat pm. Snow-level will likely drop to around 10k ft by Sat evening....

• Some snow accumulation for areas near Loveland, Jones, Berthoud Passes, IPW, RMNP Sat night into Sun (1-3" above 10k ft)

• For Den/Bou initially a chance for some scattered thunderstorms and rain on Sat from 2pm-9pm, best chances from Boulder north, won't be much for Denver (too much downslope

• Then by late Sat night into Sun am, some colder air will move into the northern front-range (on the back-side of the low) and this will bring in some clouds and cooler weather for Den/Bou on Sun with temps only in the 60s.

• Then on Sun evening into Mon a chance for some rain for the front-range, best chances from Denver north to Ft. Collins from 6pm Sun to 3am Mon.

• Snow level in the front-range mountains and foothills may drop to 9500ft by early Mon am, maybe a bit more snow-accum for areas near Cameron Pass, RMNP, IPW late Sun night into Mon

  
  

Looking ahead, maybe another cold storm-system (with a chance for snow for Den/Bou and the mountains) around Oct 10th/11th but that is a ways out.

That's all for now. First image loop shows the evolution of the forecast pattern over the next 15-days from GFS via 700mb temps/wind...we are looking for the colder air: dark blues to purpler for some snow in CO. Second image shows forecast total liquid precip from now through 6am Mon from latest ECMWF model, third image is equivalent from latest NWS Blend of Models and fourth image shows forecast total snowfall from now through 6am Mon from NBM, take with big grain of salt as details will change some.