Colorado weather: Snow returns to mountains Friday, thunderstorms to douse metro area

Snow will to return to the mountains this weekend as lower elevations are doused with rain showers and thunderstorms, NWS forecasters said.

Colorado weather: Snow returns to mountains Friday, thunderstorms to douse metro area

Snow is forecast to return to the mountains this weekend as lower elevations are doused with rain, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS forecasters said light snow will be possible starting Friday for areas above 9,000 feet. Lower elevations — including the foothills and metro area — can expect scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

“Yep, that’s snow back in the forecast!” NWS forecasters said. “There is some uncertainty in the storm track — but check back if you have travel plans!”

Warmer-than-average weather across Colorado has delayed annual snowfalls and the Denver area might not see its first snow until mid-November, nearly a month later than normal, according to NWS forecasters.

Over the last 10 years, Denver’s first snow has fallen once in September, four times in October, four times in November and once in December, according to NWS data.

This weekend, high mountain passes — including Hoosier Pass, Loveland Pass and Trail Ridge Road Summit — have about a 50% chance of seeing at least 4 inches of snow between Friday and Saturday, forecasters said.

Snow is expected to start around noon Friday and continue through Sunday before lightening up overnight into Monday, according to NWS forecasters.

Rain showers started in the mountains Wednesday morning and will continue through Friday, when the temperatures dip below freezing and the first snow falls, forecasters said.

Thunderstorms and showers will start in lower elevations around noon Friday, forecasters said. In the Denver area, the strongest rain showers and thunderstorms will hit between noon Friday and noon Saturday.

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