Snowfall map for the Thu/Fri storm system

02/19/25 8pm: Alright, here you go: snowfall forecast map for the approaching storm system slated to impact the state from tomorrow afternoon through Friday morning. High uncertainty in the exact snowfall details as models can't agree on exact low track and how strong it will be as it moves through. Also unclear exactly where the main upslope band sets up on the front-range. But below is my best guess and I will mostly let the map speak for itself.

For the north-central mountains (including Routt, Pitkin, Eagle, Summit, Grand, ClearCreek, western Boulder/Larimer counties) the main snow even will be from 2pm Thu to 9am Fri (heaviest late Thu night). Generally 4-12" for the ski areas with highest amounts along/east of the Cont. Divide: Loveland, Jones/Berthoud, Winter Park, IPW, RMNP areas will be favored. Refer to map.

For Den/Bou and the front-range we still have the cold-air in place (which should help snowfall get going early). Snow likely from about 5pm Thu to 10am Fri, heaviest early Fri morning. Most of the snow accumulation will be from Longmont south, with heaviest amounts in the upslope notch: southwest of a line from Boulder to Parker. Generally 3-8" for the Den/Bou urban corridor with lesser amounts further north (near Ft. Collins) and also less south of Springs likely (due to some downslope). Foothills can expect 5-12" of new snow with highest amounts from Boulder Co. south.

With the low tracking pretty far north, not much snow for southern CO...likely some snow in the western San Juans (Silverton / Telluride areas) as the low approaches tomorrow.

In terms of wind, not that windy overall. Strong wind in the Front-Range mountains tonight into tomorrow morning. Then for Thu, strong wind over southern CO as the low approaches (and the pressure gradient strengthens): wind-gusts of 30-60 mph down there (strongest along/south of Monarch Pass). Otherwise not too bad of wind for the north-central mountains and front-range during the event.

That is all for now. What a storm cycle. This is the final storm of 4-5 distinct waves...and models show a big warm up / dry out starting Fri afternoon and for the next 1 week or more....going to get really warm in Denver by Sun and into early next week...more on that later.

First image is my snowfall forecast map through 10am Fri. Second image shows the upper-level low at 11pm Thu via 500mb vorticity / wind from latest GFS. Images 3 and 4 compare forecast total snowfall from now through 5pm Fri from latest HRRR and NAM-3km models, take with grain of salt as the details willl change some.