A blast of cooler weather is expected to move in today as a winter weather advisory covers much of the region until 3 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Denver said a fast-moving Pacific storm is expected to bring up to 6 inches of snow.
The storm is expected to push onto the Eastern Plains this afternoon, packing wind gusts of up to 50 mph, forecasters said.
The winter weather advisory covers locations above 9,000 feet from western Jackson County to Clear Creek County, including Boulder County.
As of early morning, it was snowing at the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Nearby ski slopes were also poised to see a potent early-season snow, according to the forecast.
Areas above 10,000 feet could see winds of 25 mph to 35 mph, which could create blowing snow, icy roads and other driving hazards west of Denver, forecasters said.
“Adequate snow tires and/or tire chains may also be required for a time on the passes,” according to the National Weather Service.
Breezy and possibly wet weather is expected in Denver today.
The city has a 10 percent chance of rain before noon, with wind gusts of more than 30 mph, according to the forecast.
Temperatures should remain seasonable.
The forecast high is 62 degrees, equal to the 30-year average for Denver, according to the weather records.
The forecast low of 33 degrees before midnight, however, ranks 19 degrees colder than the average low for the city.
Forecasters expect high temperatures to remain at about 60 degrees, with nighttime temperatures at or below 40 degrees, until Thursday, when they could climb back into the upper 60s and remain there through the weekend.
Though there is no snow in Denver’s immediate forecast, the average date for the first snowfall is Oct. 21. Last year, the first flakes were recorded at Denver International Airport, the official monitoring site for the city, on Nov. 10.
Some parts of the southeast metro region got snow this year on Oct. 8.
