A winter weather advisory is in effect until 3 p.m. Thursday for much of the high country west of Denver as a storm system moving through the state dumps snow in the mountains.
The National Weather Service in Boulder is calling for up to 7 inches of snow in areas with elevations above 8,000 feet.
At about 11:30 a.m. , forecasters reported 3 inches of snow had fallen in Breckenridge and Tabernash.
“Snow, slush and poor visibilities will likely create difficult driving conditions through early this afternoon,” the weather service said in their advisory. “Front Range travelers should anticipate slow traffic and possible delays.”
The winter weather about 11 a.m. after several crashes in the area.
Between a quarter inch to a half inch of rain is expected Thursday in the Denver area as the storm passes through.
The Eastern Plains could get even more moisture Thursday than the metro area, said Scott Entrekin, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Boulder.
A record-setting three-quarters of an inch of rain fell at Denver International Airport on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s steady rain, which reached .79 inches, toppled a precipitation record set on Oct. 21, 1906, when .63 inches of rain fell, Entrekin said.
The high temperature is expected to be in the low 50s in the Denver area Thursday.
Colorado is expected to dry out for Friday and the weekend as temperatures will climb to the 60s on Friday and Saturday and a balmy 70 by Sunday.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or denverpost.com/coldcases
