Snowfall map for Thu-Sat storm system

04/16/25 9pm: Alright, I put together a little snowfall map for you for the approaching storm system. Devil is in the details as I'm still seeing a wide variation in exact snowfall amounts between the models (based on differences in track of the upper-level low and how it all evolves), but my best guess below based on everything I'm seeing. I'll let the map mostly speak for its self.

Most of the snow for the mountains and front-range will be from 11pm Thu through 9am Sat, with snow lingering in the mountains through Sat evening.

As I mentioned earlier today, likely not that much snow for Den/Bou and the front-range urban corridor prior to 8am Fri as models now show most of the meaningful snow accumulation really coming between 6pm Fri to 9am Sat (when the main upper-level low moves through), but still some starting late Thu night into Fri am.

As typical with these mid-April snow-storms there will be a big gradient in snowfall totals from east to west, with higher elevation areas near the foothills getting the most, with much less closer to DIA and east. Generally 2-8" of snow for Den/Bou/Ft.Collins and 7-13"+ for the foothills. Refer to map.

For the north-central mountains the snow will also come in waves with the heaviest accumulation expected from Fri afternoon through Sat afternoon. Generally 7-16" for the local ski areas and mountain passes, favoring the front-range mountains (along/east of the Cont. Divide due to the upslope nature of the storm)

Also some good snow amounts expected across southern CO: with 8-20" for much of the San Juans above 9k ft, heaviest in those areas from Fri am through Sat am. Also looks like parts of the SLV (Alamosa) and Sangres will get some good snow Fri night through Sat night

Since many folks were asking, for Fruita and the western slope looks like a chance for some rain (and cold-front) from 4pm-11pm Thu, then another chance for some rain there Fri afternoon: 2pm-10pm Fri. Then looks pretty dry the rest of the weekend and slowly warming up.

That is all for now. Uncertainty is high in terms of detailed snowfall amounts. For example the HRRR shows quite a bit of snow through even 12pm Fri (last image loop), but take with grain of salt but shows some uncertainty in how the first part of the storm may evolve. This is going to be fun!

First image is my initial total snowfall map through 6pm Sat. Images 2 and 3 compare forecast total snowfall from now through 6am Sun from latest ECMWF and NWS Blend of Models, last image loop is HRRR just through 12pm Fri for now.