Storm update and a look ahead to the active weather this weekend

03/03/25 8pm: Storm system is well underway with some heavy rain on the front-range and some heavy snow in the foothills and north-central mountains (snow line is currently around 6500ft). There were even some thunderstorms earlier north of DIA (a sure sign of spring) Forecast remains on track. Not a big update but some observations and images below

Its fun to merry up the current radar (image 1) and the position of the upper-level low (image 2). You can see the low is strengthening now and setting up in southeast CO as expected and will slowly move east tonight into tomorrow.

At my house in Westminster moderate rain right now with a temp of 36 degs. You can already see the back-side / downslope hole moving into northwest front-range from Boulder to Ft. Collins (with no precip and just wind). On the flipside heavy rain from DIA to the Palmer Divide and that should switch over to all snow in the next 1-3 hours. Already some good snow in the foothills above 7k ft (areas near Evergreen to Bailey have picked up 2-5" already). Snow accumulation for the Palmer Divide and foothills remains on track (4-8" total generally speaking).

In the mountains, the main band of snow from this low moving through (with some northerly flow at the upper-levels) will continue to produce heavy snow through 3am Tue, then lighter snow after that for a bit, then more snow tomorrow afternoon / evening (as colder northwest flow moves in). Latest high-res models like HRRR show much more snow to come (additional 6-12" on top of the 2-4" already at the local ski areas). Snow will continue through 11pm Tue. Images 3 and 4 show current snow-stakes for Breck and Vail. Image 5 shows forecast additional snowfall from 5pm tonight through 5am Wed from latest HRRR (does include a few inches that have fallen in the last 2 hours).

And of course its going to be very windy over the front-range and adjacent mountains tomorrow: northerly wind-gusts of 40-70mph.

Looking ahead a very active pattern on tap as models show two storms system now between Wed night and Sat am: First wave will bring another round of moderate / heavy snow to the mountains from about 9pm Wed through 2am Fri (additional 5-12" for ski areas). Just rain/snow showers for front-range (Den/Bou)

Then another southern track cut-off low will impact CO from about 12pm Fri through 5pm Sat...and that storm looks like it could bring some meaningful snow to the front-range (Den/Bou) as models show a good upslope event, mostly Fri night into Sat am, uncertainty is high (but multiple models are showing this. Mountains will also get more snow 4-10", favoring southwest CO (Fri into Sat).

That is all for now. How are conditions in your neck of the woods?