February’s warm streak will snap on Sunday as a winter storm will cast a snowy spell over northern Colorado through the second half of the President’s Day weekend.
The high temperature on Saturday reached 70 degrees at Denver International Airport, the fourth time the high has topped 70 degrees this month. The average high in February is 46 degrees.
But winds will pick up and snow should start falling across the city in the early afternoon Sunday as a cold front pushes south from Wyoming, bringing about an inch to the area before letting up in the evening.
Snow is expected to start falling again on Monday morning and gain momentum as the day goes on, adding another 3 inches, with more in the foothills.
“The worst of it may be in the afternoon” predicted Eric Thaler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.
The storm’s timing could complicate the trip down from the mountains for holiday skiers, who might do better to wait until after the snowfall lets up in the evening, Thaler said.
Thaler describes the storm as typical for a February — moderate winds, moderate accumulation and not particularly cold temperatures.
Lows on Sunday could get into the mid-20s and into the mid-teens on Monday in the Denver area.
It has been three weeks since the Denver area has seen a storm of comparable size. Temperatures this month are running way above normal.
“It will feel like its really cold given how warm it has been,” Thaler said.
Aldo Svaldi: 303-954-1410, asvaldi@denverpost.com or
