Snow, wind and cold is walloping a wide range of Colorado, including the Front Range and the foothills.
Denver could see up to 16 inches before the storm subsides Wednesday, forecasters said this evening.
A winter storm warning is in effect through 6 p.m. Wednesday for parts of northern and northeastern Colorado including Denver.
Snow in the warning area is expected to fall at an inch an hour at times tonight. Weather was the cause of multiple power outages across the metro area, including 6,200 homes and businesses in southwest Denver beginning at about 6 p.m.Xcel Energy spokesman Tom Henley could not estimate when power would be restored in the affected areas.
Five to 11 inches is expected overnight in much of the metro region, with another 5 inches Wednesday, the weather service reported.
The winter storm warning area goes far beyond Denver, ranging along the Front Range from the Wyoming border south to the Palmer Divide and extending east along the Interstate 70 corridor to Limon, according to the National Weather Service.
New snow accumulations by Wednesday morning will range from 5 to 10 inches in the mountains.
Up to 12 inches of snow is expected along parts of the Front Range and the I-70 corridor to Limon. Between 2 to 6 inches is forecast for northeastern Colorado.
Strong winds are expected with the storm, and drivers should be ready for areas of blowing snow and poor visibilities, the weather service warns.
United and Frontier are allowing passengers potentially impacted by the weather to change their tickets without penalty. Details are available on the airline web sites.
The snow in Denver should start winding down overnight Wednesday. Thursday in the city should be mostly sunny with a high temperature of 49 degrees.
High temperatures in the 50s are expected this weekend, with a high near 70 by Tuesday, according to the extended forecast.
