Forecasters: Hits to keep on coming

John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 29, 2006 at midnight

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What to expect weather-wise for the Denver area today, Saturday and Sunday: Snow. Snow. Then a little more snow.

What not to expect: blizzard-like conditions that made last week's storm so exciting.

Round 2 of back-to-back storms is making up in durability what it lacks in razzle-dazzle.

Eight to 12 inches should be on the ground in the metro area by this morning, with another 2 to 4 inches falling during the day, said Jim Kalina, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

"Up in the foothills, we're looking at 1 to 2 feet, with upwards of 30 inches," he said.

The foothills were taking the brunt of the storm. One area just south of Evergreen measured 18 inches - 7 of which fell within two hours.

The Weather Service posted a winter storm watch that will remain in effect through Sunday afternoon.

So far, the latest storm has not been classified as a blizzard; it lacks the high winds that marked last week's storm, shutting down most of the metro area for two days.

That could change for eastern Colorado tonight, when high winds are possible, Kalina said.

By 8 p.m., snow was falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour in several areas, including Niwot, Evergreen, Conifer, Fairplay and Aurora. One of the heaviest accumulations was measured just west of Erie in Weld County, where 6 inches of snow had fallen in two hours.

The Weather Service predicted a second round of heavy snow and stronger winds developing today through Sunday over the plains east of Denver.

By the time it all ends, the Weather Service estimates 8 to 18 inches will fall along the Front Range. Gusty north winds of 15 to 30 mph are expected to stir things up around the metro area today - just short of the 35 mph needed to be called a blizzard.

Snowfall accumulations as of Thursday night

Evergreen: 18 inches

Greenwood Village: 6.5 inches

Gilpin County (north of Black Hawk): 20 inches

Broomfield: 6 inches

Conifer: 14 inches

Downtown Denver: 5 inches

Estes Park: 13 inches

Jamestown: 13 inches

Bailey: 5 inches

Centennial: 6 inches

Fairplay: 14 inches