DENVER (KDVR) – A storm system is heading into Colorado and Denver weather this weekend, and will create fire concerns and travel problems in Colorado's mountains. An accurate weather alert has been issued for Saturday.
Saturday will see gusts reaching 30-40 mph at times. A red flag warning for Denver and the Front Range will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There should be no open burning or doing anything that causes a spark across the eastern plains of Colorado.
The biggest concern is in the Colorado mountains over the weekend. Snow is expected to fall in the mountains late Saturday and become heavy, with snowfall and low visibility until late Sunday making travel difficult. Snow totals could exceed a foot in some areas by late Sunday, according to Pinpoint Weather, Colorado's most accurate forecast.
Weather tonight: few clouds and breezy
The weather at night will be sunny in some areas, and the winds will be southwesterly in general, reaching a speed of 15 knots per hour. The sky will be clear in most areas, with some clouds appearing in some areas. Temperatures will be cold across the state, with the coldest readings in the single digits and lows below freezing in the Colorado mountains.
Weather Tomorrow: Select a weather alert day
Saturday will be a “warm before the storm” day with sunny skies over eastern Colorado and afternoon temperatures about 15 to 20 degrees above normal.
Winds are expected to be high across metro Denver while the red flag warning is in place. The biggest concern for strong winds will be in southern Colorado south of Pueblo, where a high wind warning is in place.
The weather will be mild in the mountains before snow falls later in the day, and heavy snow and low visibility are expected to create travel problems in the Colorado mountains.
Looking Ahead: Rain and snow showers
A cold front is expected to arrive early Sunday morning along the Front Range and in metro Denver. Temperatures are expected to drop slightly into the 50s.
There will be some rain and snow early and it will likely turn to showers late in the morning before ending in the afternoon. If there is any snow accumulation along the Front Range, it looks like it will be mainly south of town and less than an inch away, which should melt quickly.
Temperatures for next week are expected to be above the seasonally high 50 degrees in Denver on most days. Another approaching storm is targeting the area late in the week, with temperatures expected to be in the low 40s in Denver and the potential for more rain and snow.