Colorado got an after-Christmas special with a blizzard that hit the eastern side of the state Tuesday, but the weather is calming down Wednesday as snow recedes and winds die down.
Snow showers will linger until about midmorning across the Palmer Divide and the eastern plains, with just an inch of additional accumulation possible in some areas. Winds that had reached up to 60 mph on the plains are now generally in the 25 to 35 mph range, with some gusts reaching 40 mph.
Forecasters warned the existing snow on the ground across the plains could still cause some travel problems with blowing snow, but visibility across the region has increased to about 10 miles.
Most highways in the northeast are still closed due to the potentially dangerous conditions.
Blizzard warnings expired at 5 a.m. Wednesday, but forecasters said drivers and residents should still be prepared for cold weather emergencies. Temperatures will be about two to four degrees warmer Wednesday than Tuesday, with highs in the 30s.
On the other side of the state, mountain communities will stay below freezing Wednesday, and the Denver and northern Front Range areas can expect temperatures into the 40s.
Denver can expect slightly warmer weather the rest of the week, with temperatures reaching the 50s by Friday. Lows in Denver will stick around the mid-20s.
