DENVER – Denver’s first official snowfall of the season has already surpassed the normal monthly total for all of November. The Metro Reporting Station at Denver International Airport recorded 9 inches of snow so far, with another major snowfall on the way.

The average November snowfall for Denver is 7.3 inches

Another foot could be added to Denver’s snow totals by the time this storm system moves through Saturday, according to Denver7 meteorologist Danielle Grant.

“We have a winter storm warning here in Denver, where 6 to 12 inches are possible. Many schools are already closed and you may be able to work from home,” said Grant. “I would advise that because traveling there will be a little difficult, especially on the south and east side of the metro.”

NWS Boulder

Morning meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo of Denver7 said snowfall should increase in intensity by mid-morning Friday before conditions continue to deteriorate throughout the day. “A dangerous evening ride is in store,” Hidalgo said.

“This storm system means business,” Grant added. “We will see showers in the far northern corner of the state around 1am on Friday, but heavy snow will fall across the city.”

Forecasters say they expect continued waves of snow in Denver throughout the day and evening Friday, before the storm’s last gasp arrives around noon or a little later Saturday.

Denver7 futurecast shows heavier snow in Denver around 2 to 3 p.m. “Around 3am to 5am it won’t be good on the roads with temperatures in the 30s and the wind coming from the north, it will feel like the 20s, and at that time there will be quite a lot of snow ,” said Hidalgo. “Those heavier snowfalls will continue overnight and will really start to taper off early tomorrow morning.”

Hidalgo said a clearing will finally occur Saturday afternoon.

The entire Denver metro area, most of the I-25 corridor, the Palmer Divide and the eastern Plains are under a winter storm warning, with double-digit snow accumulations expected, with forecasters and law enforcement agencies traveling in areas hardest hit by discourage the winter storm. .

“If you must travel, bring a winter storm pack, including items such as snow chains, jumper cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also bring 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.

Click this link to view the snowfall totals infographic in full screen.

Snowfall could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour in Denver between noon and 6 p.m. Friday, the NWS said. The Palmer Divide is expected to experience periods of 2 inches of snowfall between noon and midnight.

The NWS said to expect “historic” snow totals in eastern Elbert and Lincoln counties — up to 3 feet in some spots — as Lincoln County Police told Denver7 conditions on Thursday were “dangerous” and that the heavy, persistent snow hampered efforts to reach the areas. stranded motorists.

‘We find people on provincial roads who have no business being there because they are so far from the highway. So we don’t know who we’re missing because some of these drifts on these county roads are 8 to 10 feet deep,” Lincoln County Sheriff Tom Nestor told Denver7. “I haven’t seen a storm like this in many, many years. I have been working at the sheriff’s office for 36 years and we are struggling to make ends meet. 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 Saturday afternoon for Colorado’s far northern counties and the northern and central mountain ranges. Greeley and Fort Morgan are included in the winter weather advisory where between 1 and 3 inches of snow is possible, according to the NWS.

Snow totals in Fort Collins are expected to be between 2 and 4 inches.

“Tomorrow afternoon the sky will start to clear. If you’re going into the mountains, I’m not so sure the Saturday morning ride will be great. We may see some closures on I-70 to the west,” Hidalgo said. “If you leave on Friday, it will be a lot better to come back on Sunday.”

This storm will likely weaken as the largest November storm Denver has seen in nearly three decades. Denver7’s Grant said the last major storm in November was a two-day whopper on Nov. 13 and 14, 1994. Stapleton Airport accumulated 12 inches of snow, with a total of 18 inches of snow that month.

Ahead of the storm, Governor Jared Polis verbally declared a state of emergency and activated the Colorado National Guard to assist with the storm response.

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

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

Denver7

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