While Denver metro area residents face patchy fog on their evening commute, other parts of the state are under threat of freezing drizzle, avalanches and other winter weather.
The southern mountains could see heavy snow tonight, particularly at higher elevations, but the central and northern mountains should see only about an inch, according to the National Weather Service.
The shallow arctic air mass, however, isn’t expected to bring much snow and ice to the Front Range and plains, but just enough to potentially cause problems for some areas, forecasters said.
Yuma, Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties are under a freezing drizzle advisory overnight.
“The freezing rain will change over to rain from south to north late Tuesday morning as the shallow cold air retreats northward through the day,” forecasters said.
An avalanche watch is in effect tonight through noon Tuesday for the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado.
“The existing snowpack is very weak and will quickly be overloaded,” the National Weather Service warned this afternoon. “Large natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely on Tuesday in the watch areas.”
Authorities are discouraging backcountry recreation in the San Juans on Tuesday. Travelers around steep slopes there should monitor weather and avalanche updates, as well as carry emergency equipment, they said.
After a low of 19 degrees tonight, Denver should see a high of about 39 Tuesday with partly sunny skies, according to the forecast.
Seasonable temperatures and sunny skies are expected in the metro region through the weekend.
