According to the National Weather Service, another three feet of snow could fall in Denver this week and more than three feet of fresh snow is forecast for Colorado’s mountains.

The first snow of the season lingered in Denver on Tuesday, totaling nearly 2 inches by 8:30 p.m., according to NWS snow totals. But forecasters say the worst of the storm, which is expected to last through Friday, is still on its way.

According to the NWS snow forecast, between 6 and 12 inches of fresh snow could fall between 6 and 12 inches of fresh snow between 5 a.m. Wednesday and 5 a.m. Friday.

Aurora, Centennial and Highlands Ranch could all see between 3 and 14 inches of new snow Friday morning, and Parker could see between 9 and 17 inches, NWS forecasters said.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect for Boulder, Jefferson, Broomfield, Douglas, Denver, Adams, Arapahoe and Broomfield counties until 11 p.m. Wednesday, forecasters said.

According to the weather advisory, the heaviest snow in the Denver area will fall in the southern and southwestern metro.

“Travel may be difficult,” forecasters said in the advisory. “The hazardous conditions may impact commutes on Wednesday morning and evening.”

According to an NWS Hazardous Weather Alert, the Southern Foothills, the Palmer Divide and the east-central Plains could experience “near blizzard conditions” throughout the day.

At higher elevations, especially Colorado’s mountain passes, more than three feet of fresh snow is expected to fall Friday morning. Forecasters said:

• Cordova Pass in southwestern Colorado’s Spanish Peaks could see between 27 and 44 inches of snow;
• Wolf Creek Pass and La Manga Pass in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado could see between 10 and 24 inches of snow;
• Cucharas Pass, North La Veta Pass and Pass Creek Pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of central Colorado could see between 19 and 36 inches of snow;
• Raton Pass near the Colorado-New Mexico border could see between 27 and 36 inches of snow.

A winter storm warning for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and a winter weather advisory for the San Juan Mountains remain in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday.