Denver is bracing for what could end up being the city’s “biggest snowstorm of the season” as a late winter storm threatens up to 10 inches of snow by Friday.
The last few weeks have brought a range of unexpected weather across the United States, from abnormally warm temperatures in late February across the Midwest to a “biblical” blizzard in California that dumped as much as 10 feet of snow in some mountain regions.
More weather changes are on the way as a storm system will bring snow and rain to the West, plunging temperatures in the central Colorado region to 37 degrees by Thursday, which is around 15 degrees below normal for this time of year.
“Wintry weather and blizzard conditions” could accompany the drop in temperatures, an AccuWeather report warned.
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Snow is expected to arrive in central Colorado by 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday and continue falling through Thursday and into Friday.
“Widespread snow amounts of 6-12 inches are expected as the second half of the week progresses,” AccuWeather meteorologist Renee Duff said in the report.
AccuWeather meteorologist Scott Homan told Newsweek that the incoming storm will be “long-lasting.”
Snowfall totals higher than 12 inches are expected in the state’s mountainous terrain. Utah, Arizona and southern Wyoming also are expecting snow from the same storm this week.
If more than 5.5 inches of snow falls at the Denver International Airport, then the storm will go down as the “snowiest storm of the winter.” Most recently, Denver’s largest snowfall occurred in February when 5.5 inches of snow fell within 24 hours on February 3.
The incoming storm is expected to boost Denver’s snowfall totals. At only 18.2 inches of snow this season, the city is far behind its average of 49.4 inches, Homan said.
However, the incoming snow could have negative impacts as well.
“The snow from this storm is expected to be wet, heavy and clingy, which may result in power outages and down trees, especially in areas where a foot or more snow accumulates,” Duff said in the report.
AccuWeather warned that the snow could disrupt travel at the Denver International Airport and cause issues for motorists on Interstate 25 and Interstate 70.
Meanwhile, Midwestern and Eastern states are experiencing temperatures much above normal this week. For example, temperatures will be in the mid-70s in Minneapolis, roughly 35 degrees above normal for this time of year.
“Temperatures over the next couple of days will be well above normal especially across the central and northern Plains and the Midwest before gradually advancing into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley,” a National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center forecast said. “The return of dry weather coupled with increasingly gusty winds and low relative humidity will promote an increased risk of wildfires.”
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.