RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People ice skate at a rink in Boulder on Dec. 20, 2016. 
By Kirk Mitchell | kmitchell@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
It will be warmer than normal on Friday and Saturday before a west wind brings snow into Colorado, according to forecasters.
The high temperatures will be 49 degrees on Friday and 47 on Saturday, according to meteorologists for the National Weather Service in Boulder.
It will get cloudy and windy on Christmas Eve, Saturday night, with gusts up to 21 mph. The temperature will drop to around 26 degrees.
On Christmas morning there is a 20 percent chance of snow before 11 a.m.
“There will be some passing snow but I don’t think you’re talking about a blanket of snow. Most people have a shot of seeing a snowflake or two,” said Nazette Rydell, meteorologist for the NWS.
It won’t be considered a white Christmas by one historical gauge unless there is an accumulation of at least one inch of snow.
Denver has had a white Christmas only 38 percent of the time since 1900, according to NWS statistics.
The most snow ever recorded on the ground in Denver on Christmas was 24 inches following the Christmas Eve blizzard of 1982, the NWS says.
Temperatures will climb to a high of around 41 degrees on Sunday afternoon, according to the NWS.
Through the middle of next it will be sunny with highs from the upper 30s to the mid 40s, according to the forecast.
Denver Post Library ArchiveEd Morrell, 1360 Stteele, spent the majority of Christmas morning digging out two spots for the family cars along the street. The piles of snow he was leaving behind measured over 8 feet high.
Denver Post Library ArchiveStreet lined with buried cars after the Blizzard Of '82.
UPIAir Travelers sleep at Stapleton International Airport Christmas night 12/25 as they wait for their flights. Officials managed to open one runway late 12/25. Thousands were stranded by the Blizzard of 1982.
Denver Post Library ArchiveJenny Ball of Denver makes her way along Colfax Street in downtown Denver on Christmas Day on skis. More than two feet of snow on Christmas Eve paralyzed the city, stranding motorists and forcing residents of the Mile Hi City to seek other forms of transportation. 1982
Denver Post Library ArchiveJohn Facio of Denver uses a power snow blower to clear the sidewalk in front of his home. Residents of the Mile High City will be clearing snow for some time after a severe winter storm on Christmas Eve 1982 dumped more than two-feet of snow on the area.
Denver Post Library ArchiveAfternoon Glide -- Denverite Abby Marsh and her dog, Sheba, took advantage of Wednesday's sunshine going for a cross - country ski outing in Denver's Cheeseman Park. 1982
Denver Post Library ArchiveDigging Out - A motorist uses a snow shovel to clear snow from under his automobile on Friday in Denver where more than a foot of snow blanketed the city. 1982.
UPI, Denver Post Library ArchiveUnidentified woman digs out her car on one of Denver main streets December 25, 1982 after a blizzard dropped three feet of snow on the area Christmas Day. A abandoned jack knifed semi trailer is snowed in.
Denver Post Library ArchiveDigging Out -- Florece Barrier returned to Denver Wednesday after a trip to Texas to find her car buried in snow in front of her house. Denver continues to dig out with snow forecast for later in the week. 1982.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA road grader clears snow from ramps around the concourses at Stapleton International Airport, where air traffic was halted Christmas Eve and much of Christmas Day because of a blizzard that paralyzed the city. Most airlines chose to cancel all Christmas flight despite efforts to open a runway by dusk. 1982.
Denver Post Library ArchiveStarting to dig out after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveDigging out after the Blizzard of '82 in Denver.
Denver Post Library ArchivePedestrians seem to make as much progress through snow bound main street than autos which are spun out in various directions. A Christmas blizzard dumped up to three feet of snow. This scene was on Colorado Blvd in 1982.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA tractor tries to help free five cars in Broomfield which are buried in the snow December 25, 1982. A blizzard dumped up to three feet of snow on Denver.
Denver Post Library ArchiveCross country skiing in Denver after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveCars still stranded along the street after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA bus slides off the street during the Blizzard Of '82.
John Prieto, The Denver PostAmy Prieto having fun climbing huge snow drifts in front of her home in Thornton after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA couple venturing out during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA man makes his way through the snow during the Blizzard Of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA bus slid off the road during the Blizzard Of '82.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostHerb Schneider trying to dig out his car. He would dig a little and then with chains on he would drive forward. Getting out was slow but he was making it until his chains broke. He decided they would just have to come and tow it out.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople hustle through the snow during the Blizzard Of '82.
APJeff Hakmen shovels snow from around his stranded four-wheel drive vehicle at his home in Denver on Christmas day 1982. More than two-feet of snow fell on the Denver area on Christmas Eve stranding thousands enroute to visit relative for Christmas. 1982.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople trying to make the best of it while stranded at the airport during the Blizzard Of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver PostThe view from one Stapelton bar on the D concourse showed snow removal coming along just fine Monday after the Blizzard of '82. Officials there claim to have service back to normal by Wednesday.
Denver Post Library ArchiveLines of traffic headed for Stapleton International Airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver PostA weary TWA passenger attempted a cat nap at one of Stapelton's concourse gates as he and other passengers had been waiting for two days to get out of Denver during the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver PostTravel was still difficult for some passengers after the Blizzard of '82. Some upwards to a mile from the airport and others sat on the luggage waiting patiently for their rides.
Denver Post Library ArchiveStranded travelers during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveTraffic headed for the airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveClearing out the snow at Stapleton International Airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveLong lines at the airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveAerial view of the traffic at Stapleton after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveLines at the airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver PostA Motorist that spent Christmas eve, in a motel, got the help of Ray Pafford, right and another unidentified passerby, as the the motorist tried to leave the motel early Christmas morning.
Denver Post Library ArchiveCleaning up after the Blizzard Of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople venture out after the Blizzard Of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveTrash piles up after the Blizzard Of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople switch busses after one slid off the street during the Blizzard of '82.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver PostPutting chains on a car at Denver Post loading doors during the blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA bus stuck on the side of the street during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA man rides his bike down the street after the Blizzard of '82.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostPeople make their way over the snowbank to catch the bus after the Blizzard of '82.
Anthony Suau, The Denver PostStapleton airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveAerial view of the airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople line up to catch the bus after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveLong lines of travelers at the airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveStapleton airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople cross country skiing down the street during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA man trying to dig out his car after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA parking lot with cars buried in up to three feet of snow after the Blizzard of '82.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver PostPeople out for a walk in the Blizzard of '82.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostDressed for the Blizzard of '82,
Denver Post Library ArchiveA man uses a broom to clear off his car after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveBlizzard of '82, whiteout near 3rd ave. and Steele St. near Cherry Creek Shopping area.
Anthony Suau, The Denver PostBlizzard of '82, at Stout and 17th, Laurie Rose repairs a flat tire after applying chains to her car.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostMary Scarborough and her son Steven Wells are making there 1st snow man. They came from Phoenix Arizona in Sept. and are having a ball with this snow from the blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA Coors delivery truck stuck in the street after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveTwo men had to push their bikes down the snow covered streets during the Blizzard of '82.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver PostSlow going after the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver PostCharles Bonniwell, walks westbound on Colfax Monday morning after the blizzard of '82 on his way to work from his home on Williams street east of Boradway. Bonniwell carried his dress shoes in his coat pockets.
Anthony Suau, The Denver PostA pedestrian walks down 15th street at California during the blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveAppearing much like a resort town, Denver as seen from Colfax avenue looking west showed Christmas morning, a select number of autos, mainly four wheeled drive vehicles and lots of residents coming to the streets to look at the blizzard remains.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople lending a hand to a stuck driver after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveShelters fill up during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveBlizzard of '82, City Center emergency room.
Denver Post Library ArchiveBlizzard of '82, Lovingway church van abandoned at 13th, one block west of Colo. Blvd.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA backhoe cleaning up after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople trying to make their way to the airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveDressed for the Blizzard of '82.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver PostRick Slezak ofl Denver skied to the newspaper box this morning at 7:30 AM with his dog Beau to get his morning paper but there were no new papers in the box yet because of the roads. This was the 1800 block of South Downing.
Dave Buresh, The Denver PostLaurie Rose is chopping away the ice and snow in front of the shoe store that she and her husband own at 3100 E Colfax . The owners of the three stores there were all pitching in to encourage customers they were open for business.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA man walks his dog in the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver PostMartha Buerkle, who lives at 12th and Humbolt headed to downtown via East Colfax Monday morning for work.
Denver Post Library ArchiveTow trucks haul away abandoned vehicles in the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople walking down Colfax after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveAn aerial view after the Blizzard of '82.
Bill Wunsuch, The Denver PostBlizzard of '82, Colo 94 near Pumpkin Center.
Denver Post Library ArchiveTow truck trying to help a stuck car during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveNewspapers at 8th and Colorado Blvd never made it to residences.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA man wades through the snow next to a stuck bus during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveResidents, stranded motorists and passersby stop at a convenience food store on Colfax as a place of refuge from the sometimes- waist deep snow around the metro area.
Denver Post Library ArchiveNo eggs were available at this store as the delivery trucks couldn't make it through the Blizzard of '82. Denver Post Library Archive
Denver Post Library ArchiveStranded bus passengers at 17th and California during the blizzard of 1982.
Denver Post Library ArchiveStranded travelers at the airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveCars sit buried along the street after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveDigging out after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveIt appears even Santa was stranded in Denver during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople stranded at the airport in Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveLong lines at the airport during Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveMailman Robert Gallegos delivers mail amidst piles of snow Thursday afternoon in Montbello an eastern suburb of Denver. Although Mr. Gallegos said this was his second day back on the job since "The Blizzard of '82" hit the Mile High City on Christmas Eve he also remarked that he was between two and three hours behind schedule on his daily route. 1982.
Denver Post Library ArchiveCleaning up after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchivePeople make their way down the snow covered streets after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA man trying to clear off a car during the Blizzard of '82.
UPIOne of the hardest hit area,Aurora a Denver suburb the main street of Colfax Ave is inundated by snow from the Christmas blizzard here 12/26.Two days after the storm cars and a bus sit abandoned on this Main Ave.
Denver Post Library ArchiveThe streets were buried with up to three feet of snow during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveTrying to clear out after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library ArchiveA man doesn't look very happy about having to dig out his truck in the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
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Ed Morrell, 1360 Stteele, spent the majority of Christmas morning digging out two spots for the family cars along the street. The piles of snow he was leaving behind measured over 8 feet high.
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