A foot possible as ‘historic’ snow totals slam Colorado

DENVER – Denver’s first official snow of the season has already surpassed the normal monthly total for all of November, as the metro reporting station at Denver International Airport recorded 8.9 inches of accumulation so far as another big dump of snow is on the way.

November snowfall average for Denver is 7.3″

Another foot could be added to Denver’s snow totals when this storm system moves out on Saturday, according to Denver7 meteorologist Danielle Grant.

“We are under a winter storm warning here in Denver where 6 to 12 inches is possible. A lot of the schools are already closed and maybe you can work from home,” Grant said. “I would advise against it because it’s going to be a bit difficult to travel out there – especially for the south and east side of the metro.”

NWS Boulder

Denver7 morning meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo said the snowfall should begin to pick up in intensity by mid-morning on Friday before conditions continue to worsen throughout the day. “A dangerous evening commute is ahead,” Hidalgo said.

“This storm system means businesses,” Grant added. “By about 1 a.m. Friday, we’re looking at showers across the far northern corner of the state, but heavy snowfall will fall through the city.”

Forecasters said to expect continuous flurries of snow throughout the day and evening Friday in Denver before the storm’s last gasp comes around noon or a little later on Saturday.

Denver7 futurecast shows heavier snow over Denver around 14.00 to 15.00“ Right around 3 p.m. to 5 a.m. it’s not going to be good on the roadways with temperatures in the 30s and the wind coming out of the north, it’s going to feel like it’s going to be in the 20s and the snow is going to be falling pretty heavy at that time,” Hidalgo said. “These heavier snowfalls will continue overnight and early tomorrow morning will really start to taper off.”

Hidalgo said Saturday afternoon will finally bring some clear skies.

The entire Denver metro area, most of the I-25 corridor, the Palmer Divide and the eastern plains are under a winter storm warning where double-digit snowfall accumulations are expected, with forecasters and law enforcement advising against travel in areas hardest hit by the winter storm.

“If you’re going to travel, take a winter storm kit with you, including things like tire chains, utility cables, a flashlight, shovel, blankets, and extra clothes. Also, take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that might help you survive if you get stranded.” wrote the National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder.

To view the snowfall totals infographic in full screen mode, click on this link.

Snowfall rates could reach between 1 and 2 inches per hour across Denver between noon and 6 p.m. Friday, the NWS said. Palmer Divide is expected to see periods of 2-inch snowfall between noon and midnight.

The NWS said to expect “historic” snow totals in eastern Elbert and Lincoln Counties — up to 3 feet in spots — as Lincoln County law enforcement told Denver7 on Thursday that conditions were “hazardous” and the heavy, persistent snow hampered efforts to for stranded motorists.

“We find people on county roads that have nothing to do with being that far off the highway. So we don’t know who we’re missing because some of these drivers on these county roads are 7, 8 to 10 feet deep,” said Lincoln County Sheriff Tom Nestor told Denver7. “I haven’t seen a storm like this in many, many years. I’m going for 36 years at the sheriff’s office and we have a lot of trouble getting around. We just can’t get people out.”

The message from Lincoln County officials was to “just stay home.”

Areas north of I-76 will see less snow, but there will be travel impacts, the NWS said.

NWS Boulder

A winter weather advisory is in effect until noon Saturday for Colorado’s northern counties and the northern and central mountain ranges. Greeley and Fort Morgan are included in the winter weather advisory, with between 2 and 8 inches of snow possible, according to the NWS.

Fort Collins’ snow totals are expected to be between 2 and 4 inches.

“Tomorrow afternoon the skies will start to clear up. If you’re heading up into the mountains, I’m not so sure the drive Saturday morning will be great. We could see some closures out west on I-70,” Hidalgo said.” If you’re going up on Friday, it will be much better to come back on Sunday.”

This storm will likely go down as the biggest November storm Denver has seen in nearly 3 decades. Denver7’s Grant said the last big November storm was a two-day storm on the 13th-14th. November 1994. 12.1 inches of snowfall piled up at Stapleton Airport with 16.9 inches of snow total that month.

Prior to the storm, Governor Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency and activated the Colorado National Guard to assist in the storm response.

If you’re looking for a break from the snow, starting on Sunday – temperatures will climb into the 50s with plenty of sunshine to start the melt.

Denver’s 7-day forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and highs in the 50s from Sunday through next Thursday.

Denver 7

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