Fast-melting snow will give way to rain as temperatures begin to rise in the Denver metro area on Tuesday, forecasters predict.
Before the snow melts away, less than a half inch of snow could accumulate after the temperature dropped to 29 degrees overnight, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.
“It should be pretty nice in the afternoon,” said Jim Kalina, NWS meteorologist.
Temperatures are expected to climb to about 50 degrees under mostly cloudy skies Tuesday, Kalina said. A mix of rain and snow is expected before 10 a.m. There is a slight chance of some rain after 2 p.m.
The mountains could get 2 inches of new snow Tuesday and 1 to 4 inches of snow Tuesday night, Kalina said. Light snow is a possibility through Thursday, when it will dry out in the mountains.
An earlier arrival of sunshine is expected in the Denver metro area. By Wednesday, when the high temperature climbs to 57 degrees, the clouds should begin clearing away.
It gets warmer through the week, with temperatures rising to 65 by Thursday, 74 by Friday and 76 on Saturday, according to the NWS forecast.
There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The high temperature will dip to about 69 degrees under partly sunny skies on Sunday.
The high temperature on Monday will be near 66 degrees, according to the NWS.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or
