Hard to believe after a day of bright sunshine, but a powerful spring storm is bearing down on Colorado, due to hit Thursday afternoon and evening.
And yet another major storm could be right behind it.
The National Weather Service is calling for rain mixed with snow on Thursday until colder nighttime temperatures turn it into heavy snow.
The Denver metro area could receive between 6 and 12 inches of snow through Friday, with freezing temperatures. Between 10 and 18 inches could fall in the foothills.
A winter storm watch has been issued for Denver, the Front Range, the northeastern plains and the southern foothills between late Thursday and Friday afternoon.
The eastern plains, particularly the northeastern plains, will also be hit hard, with an estimated 6 to 12 inches of snow falling in blizzard-like conditions.
Areas including Akron and Burlington will be under a winter storm warning from Thursday night to Saturday morning, with a threat to livestock from the heavy snow and wind.
A blizzard watch will be in effect from Thursday night through Friday for southeastern Colorado, with 6 to 12 inches in the forecast and 50 mph winds.
The central mountains including Breckenridge are expecting up to 18 inches of snow. A snow advisory will be in effect for the southwestern mountains.
“It’s not unusual to get a storm like this in the spring,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Kalina.
“What might be a little unusual about this is there might be another one right behind it, which might hit us Monday.”
Kalina said that second storm has the potential to be just as big.
Between storms, though, the weekend is forecast to be sunnier and warmer, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s.
