Snow in forecast one more time (maybe)
Metro area might see 2 inches, up to 4 inches in foothills
Bill Scanlon and Tillie Fong
Monday, May 12, 2008
George Kochaniec Jr. / The Rocky
A Rocky Mountain Parks Service snowblower operates Monday near Rock Cut on Trail Ridge Road. Officials said the road is expected to be cleared and open to the public by Friday. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved highway in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet.
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Save the daisies! Bring the petunias inside. A blast of wintry weather is hitting the Front Range.
A strong cold front moved across northern Colorado on Monday night and was expected to bring gusty winds, rain and, yes, snow, to the Front Range, National Weather Service forecasters said.
Rain and snow was expected after midnight for a broad stretch of the plains and foothills from Larimer County to Douglas County.
By tonight, the Denver area might get up to 2 inches of snow on the grassy areas, but up to 4 inches in the foothills, with temperatures dropping into the freezing range. Today's high is expected to be between 45 and 50.
"Wednesday morning you have to be careful (with plants)," said Kyle Fredin, forecast meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.
"(Tonight) may be the last night for danger, but we don't know."
Much of the snow is expected to fall in the high country, with a snow advisory in effect today and 2 to 6 inches likely by Wednesday.
"It's going to be snow from the get-go," said Fredin, adding that the highs in the mountains will be in the 30s and low 40s, with lows in the 20s. "It will be winter up there."
The late-season storm will remain in the mountains until Friday but will exit the Front Range on Wednesday.
How can this be happening so late in May?
"The reason it's possible is that this is Colorado," National Weather Service hydrometeorological technician Carl Burroughs said. "We typically get some wet snow in May in Colorado. Usually, it's warm enough at the lower elevations that it just sticks to the grass."
The storm is fairly typical for this time of year - a Pacific storm from the southwest brings moisture and collides with a Pacific storm from the northwest that brings cold.
"The moisture falls through the colder air," Burroughs said.
Things in the Denver area will dry up early Wednesday, when the high is expected to be about 60.
Thursday brings another decent chance of rain and a high of 55.
The weekend looks nice so far, with sunny skies and a high Friday of 65, shooting up to 74 on Saturday and back down to 70 on Sunday. Lows will be in the 40s.
Monday's temperatures will seem almost like summer, with highs close to 80.
scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2897
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May 13, 2008
10:08 a.m.
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SASQUATCH writes:
GLOBAL WARMING FAILS THE LOOK OUT THE WINDOW TEST....AGAIN!
May 13, 2008
11:01 a.m.
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greenleaf writes:
Squatch,
Man, I would have been so disappointed if you didn't look out your dirty little scratched window with your aged, myopic eyes this morning to apply your amazing logic. Wow!!!!!