Denver residents, brace yourselves for a spell of cold rain and potential thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters expect a steady temperature around 48 degrees with winds gusting as high as 18 mph, making for a particularly chilly day. Expect the thermometer not to budge much during the day, with rain continuing into the night and a low around 40 degrees.
For those planning to venture into the mountains, be prepared to confront more severe conditions. Storm totals of 10-20 inches are forecast for the Front Range mountains above 8,000-8,500 feet, with the heaviest totals above 9,000 feet, the National Weather Service detailed, signaling a major snowfall event that might pose challenges for travel, especially in higher elevations. Travelers should be cautious, as difficult travel conditions are expected by late afternoon and evening in mountainous areas, including I-70 east of the Eisenhower Tunnel, and US-40 over Berthoud Pass.
On the plains, rainfall will be less but still significant, with one-half to one inch predicted for most of the I-25 Corridor. Lower amounts are anticipated as you head further northeast. The National Weather Service advises that locations near the base of the foothills may witness over an inch of rain, bringing a damp start to the week for Denver metro residents.
Looking ahead, the weather is set to take a turn for the better with showers predicted to taper off late Wednesday evening. According to the hazardous weather outlook, after that, warm temperatures are expected to return through the weekend. However, don't put away the umbrellas just yet; showers and a couple of storms could still emerge, especially over the mountains. Even as warm weather is on the horizon, Denverites should still be prepared to occasionally reach for raincoats and boots.
