Expect Friday to begin dry across the region and feature another day with relatively warm temps and some wind ahead of an approaching storm. By late Friday afternoon or early Friday evening a cold front drops south across the plains and sets the stage to combine with a storm moving out of Utah and Arizona to bring a very cool and unsettled weekend to Colorado.

We’re getting more and more agreement in the timing of the system, and while a few details remain regarding where the heaviest rain and snow will be, Saturday looks to be the coolest and wettest day of the weekend. Rain and snow should be more scattered in nature on Sunday. Accumulating snow levels still look to remain above 9,000′ as a generality, but may get a bit lower under heavier showers.

The storm will dive south across Utah on Friday and end up over Arizona on Saturday where it should stall out.

The American computer model is probably too aggressive with taking moisture northward away from the storm circulation on the east side of the storm Saturday. This means its heavier snow in the central mountains is less likely to happen compared to the European model. Additionally, the heavier rain totals the American model is forecasting over the southeastern corner of Colorado is more likely to remain just to our south.

FRIDAY

Dry in the morning with increasing wind and clouds. Warm temperatures in the 60s and 70s with a few spots around 80 possible over the eastern plains. The Pikes Peak Region may see showers late in the day as a cold front arrives.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over lower elevations. Lows in the 30s and 40s. Mountains above 9,000′ will see snow, heaviest west of the San Luis Valley. Lows in the 20s and lower 30s.

SATURDAY

Cloudy and cool with periods of rain and thunderstorms over lower elevations. Highs in the upper 40s to near 60. Mountains will get snow above 9,500′ with a rain/snow mix through the day down to 8,500 under heavier showers. Mainly rain below 8,500′. Highs in the 30s and 40s.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Rain and snow showers across the region in the evening gradually decrease overnight. Lows in the 20s and 30s in the mountains and valleys with 30s to around 40 for the front range and plains.

SUNDAY

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers possible. Not as cool. Highs in the 30s and 40s over the mountains with 50s and a few 60s for lower elevations.