Watches and Warning for the approaching storm

04/17/25 8:40am: We have a colorful hazard map as the strong spring storm approaches. Forecast is on track. As I mentioned yesterday most of the impacts won't come until after 11pm tonight, so today will be fairly nice....but very windy in spots. That is the big story for today the very strong wind expected across much of southern CO and in parts of the mountains.

First image shows all the current winter weather watches and warnings and high wind / red flag warnings as well.

Much of the southern front-range from Castle Rock south and also in the foothills west of Denver are under a Red Flag Warning from 10am-7pm today: southwest wind-gusts of 30-50mph, very dry. Further north for Den/Bou wind-gust of 20-40mph, mostly from Denver south.

Southern CO, including SLV (Alamosa) and the Sangres towards Walsenburg and Trinidad is under a High Wind Warning from 10am-5pm today, southwest wind-gusts of 40-70 mph in spots. Areas of southwest CO from near Montrose to Cortez are also under a Red Flag Warning today: wind-gusts of 30-50mph in spots.

All of the north-central mountains (local ski areas / I-70 mountain corridor) and foothills above 7k ft are under a Winter Weather Advisory from 6pm this evening through 6am Saturday: 6-16" of snow depending on location

The eastern San Juans including Wolf Creek and also the Sangre De Cristos are under a Winter Storm Warning from 12am Fri through 6pm Saturday: generally 10-20" of new snow above 9k ft

Western San Juans and Elks (Telluride, Silverton towards CB) is also under a Winter Weather Advisory from 12am Fri through 6pm Sat: 6-16" of snow as well in spots.

Looking at the very latest HRRR (high-res: 3km model that does well for terrain), it shows the initial cold-front moving through Den/Bou after 6pm this evening, with clouds and some rain/snow showers filling in behind the front. But really most of the action will come after 12am Fri. Initially Fri am, through 8am, light snow for Den/Bou with heavier accumulation up near Ft. Collins. It still looks like best snowfall accum for Den/Bou and the front-range will be from 4pm Fri through 6am Sat. Amounts are on track for 3-8" of snow generally, highest near foothills.

And as I mentioned yesterday most of the snow for the north-central mountains will also be from about 2pm Fri through 12pm Sat, generally 6-16" as I mentioned, highest amounts along/east of the Cont. Divide (Front Range mountains: Berthoud/Jones Passes, IPW, RMNP, etc)

That is al for now. I'll post my snowfall map from last night in the comments as its still relevant. May update it slightly tonight

Second image is the current regional satellite showing the storm approaching from the northwest now. Image 3 shows forecast wind-gusts at 3pm today from latest HRRR. Fourth image loop shows forecast total snowfall over the next 48hrs (6am this morning to 6am Sat) from latest HRRR...take amounts with grain of salt but shows general timing and intensity.