Fort Collins, Front Range forecast for 5 inches of snow and single-digit lows
Update: 10/27 5 p.m.: The National Weather Service has increased the range of snowfall totals for many locations, including DIA, so make sure to check flight status. See the updated snowfall totals below.
Fort Collins and much of the eastern half of Colorado are under a winter weather advisory 6 a.m. Saturday to noon Sunday.
Original story
Fort Collins and the Front Range of Colorado will see their first snow of the season, while the central and northern mountains could see a foot or more of snow from a robust that will move through the state over the weekend.
The National Weather Service said it has high confidence of the timing of the storm and medium confidence on related snowfall amounts and travel impacts.
Here's a look at anticipated timing of the storm, highways impacted and the expected snowfall totals for Fort Collins and surrounding areas.
Winter storm warning issued for mountains, including western Larimer County, Rocky Mountain National Park
Friday morning, the weather service upgraded its winter weather watch to a warning from midnight Friday to noon, Sunday.
The warned area includes mountains above 9,000 feet from west of Colorado Springs to the Wyoming state line and including Cameron Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, Medicine Bow Mountains, Rabbit Ears Pass, Eisenhower Tunnel, Indian Peaks, Winter Park, Berthoud Pass and Breckenridge.
Heavy snow is expected with total snow accumulations between 8 and 24 inches in the mountains and 6 to 14 inches in the foothills, and wind gusting as high as 35 mph.
Timing of storm will impact weekend travel
Mountains: Snow will spread into the central and northern mountains late Friday and last into Sunday morning with the heaviest snow expected Saturday evening.
Front Range/Eastern Plains: Snow likely Saturday afternoon into midday Sunday. Hard freeze Saturday through Tuesday mornings along the Front Range.
Highways expected to be impacted by snow and wind
Travel could be very difficult, according to the weather service and is not advised if avoidable. If you must travel, make sure to have a full tank of gas and keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle.
For road conditions, call 511 or visit www.cotrip.org.
Major highways expected to be impacted:
Interstate 70 west of Denver
U.S. Highway 40 from Interstate 70 to Steamboat Springs
Colorado Highway 14 in upper Poudre Canyon to U.S. Highway 40
Colorado Highway 9 from Fairplay to Kremmling
Forecast snowfall totals for Fort Collins and the surrounding area
According to the National Weather Service:
Fort Collins: 6 inches expected with a low end of 3 inches and high end to 8 inches.
Red Feather Lakes: 6-8 inches
Estes Park: 6-8 inches
Greeley: 3-4 inches
Boulder: 8-12 inches
Denver: 8-12 inches
DIA: 8-12 inches
Walden: 3-4 inches
Winter Park: 12-18 inches
Vail: 8-12 inches
Breckenridge: 12-18 inches
Cheyenne: 3-4 inches
Fort Morgan: 4-6 inches
Sterling: 3-4 inches
Steamboat Springs: 2-3 inches
Fort Collins forecast calls for single-digit low temperatures; CSU football game weather outlook
National Weather Service forecast:
Saturday (CSU 5 p.m. home football game): 90% chance of precipitation with snow showers mainly after 7 a.m. High of 29 degrees, falling to around 26 degrees by 5 p.m. Northeast wind 6-10 mph, gusting to as high as 17 mph. Snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible during the day and another 2 to 4 inches during the night. Low near 19 degrees.
Sunday: 80% chance of precipitation with snow showers mainly before 7 a.m. High near 30 with light wind. Low around 8 degrees.
Monday: Sunny with a high near 40 degrees and low around 15.
Tuesday (Halloween): Sunny with a high near 42 and low around 21.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54 and low around 26.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: First major winter storm to smack Fort Collins with snow, frigid temps
