A snow event is likely for much of eastern Colorado on Friday night through Saturday, though a lot of uncertainty remains as far as how much snow will fall in the Denver area.
Light snow will likely start up in Denver on Friday night, likely after dark. Light snow will stick around in Denver through most of the day on Saturday — heavier bands should stay just east of the city — before gradually winding down on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday morning, any last flurries should be done after 1 to 3 inches of snow, with perhaps a few spots just east and south of the city picking up closer to 4 inches of total accumulation.
Areas east of the city — closer to the area of low pressure — will see the heavier snow and stronger winds. for areas east of Denver on Thursday morning. The National Weather Service is calling for 4 to 8 inches of snow from roughly Strasburg and Fort Morgan on east, although a few computer forecast models are indicating the possibility for locally higher amounts in far northeast Colorado.
Regardless of exact amounts, travel will be very difficult overnight Friday into Saturday, particularly on Interstates 70 and 76 east of Denver.
The key takeaway from most of this, though: as of Thursday, computer forecast models remained in substantial disagreement about how much snow might fall, particularly in the Denver area. The European forecast model showed a widespread 1 to 3 inches of snow for the Denver area, but with a sharp cutoff with heavier totals just east of the city.
Euro's relatively sharp cutoff shows part of the challenge of tomorrow's forecast.
— Chris Bianchi (@BianchiWeather)
The American forecast model, the GFS, showed a far heavier snow in Denver proper and throughout the metro area, with snow totals of 5 to 10 inches through Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service’s official forecast sides with the typically better-performing European forecast guidance, albeit with an important asterisk.
“Forecast confidence is on the lower side,” the .
At the very least, this storm will likely snap Denver’s snowless December to date. This storm also looks to be the last meaningful snow chance of the month (and the year and decade) for the Front Range, with drier and gradually warmer weather expected to round out 2019.
