Fort Collins, Front Range forecast for 5 inches of snow and single-digit lows

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan

Fort Collins and the Front Range of Colorado are likely to see their first snow of the season, while the central and northern mountains could see a foot or more of snow from a system that will move through the state over the weekend.

Thursday, the National Weather Service was uncertain of the storm track and how much snow it might drop. The outlook became much clearer Friday, as the weather service said it has high confidence of the timing of the storm and medium confidence on related snowfall amounts and travel impacts.

Friday morning, NWS warned drivers of freezing drizzle and fog impacting travel on Interstate 25 from Wellington north to the Wyoming state line and U.S. Highway 287 from Livermore to Virginia Dale.

Here's a look at anticipated timing of the storm, highways impacted and the expected snowfall totals for Fort Collins and surrounding areas.

Winter storm warning issued for mountains, including western Larimer County, Rocky Mountain National Park

  • Friday morning, the weather service upgraded its winter weather watch to a warning from midnight Friday to noon, Sunday.

  • The warned area includes mountains above 9,000 feet from west of Colorado Springs to the Wyoming state line and including Cameron Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, Medicine Bow Mountains, Rabbit Ears Pass, Eisenhower Tunnel, Indian Peaks, Winter Park, Berthoud Pass and Breckenridge.

  • Heavy snow is expected with total snow accumulations between 8 and 24 inches, and wind gusting as high as 35 mph.

Timing of storm will impact weekend travel

  • Mountains: Snow will spread into the central and northern mountains late Friday and last into Sunday morning with the heaviest snow expected Saturday evening.

  • Front Range/Eastern Plains: Snow likely Saturday afternoon into midday Sunday. Hard freeze Saturday through Tuesday mornings along the Front Range.

Highways expected to be impacted by snow and wind

Travel could be very difficult, according to the weather service and is not advised if avoidable. If you must travel, make sure to have a full tank of gas and keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle.

For road conditions, call 511 or visit www.cotrip.org.

Major highways expected to be impacted:

  • Interstate 70 west of Denver

  • U.S. Highway 40 from Interstate 70 to Steamboat Springs

  • Colorado Highway 14 in upper Poudre Canyon to U.S. Highway 40

  • Colorado Highway 9 from Fairplay to Kremmling

Forecast snowfall totals for Fort Collins and the surrounding area

According to the National Weather Service:

  • Fort Collins: 5 inches expected with a low end of 3 inches and high end of 7 inches.

  • Red Feather Lakes: 8-12 inches

  • Estes Park: 6-8 inches

  • Greeley: 3-4 inches

  • Boulder: 6-8 inches

  • Denver: 6-8 inches

  • DIA: 6 inches

  • Walden: 4 inches

  • Vail: 6-8 inches

  • Breckenridge: 8-12 inches

  • Cheyenne: 3-4 inches

  • Fort Morgan: 3-4 inches

  • Sterling: 2-3 inches

Fort Collins forecast calls for single-digit low temperatures; CSU football game weather outlook

National Weather Service forecast:

  • Saturday (CSU 5 p.m. home football game): 90% chance of precipitation with snow showers mainly after 7 a.m. Temperature falling to around 26 degrees by 5 p.m. Northeast wind 6-10 mph, gusting to as high as 17 mph. Snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible during the day and another 2 to 4 inches during the night. Low near 19 degrees.

  • Sunday: 80% chance of precipitation with snow showers mainly before 7 a.m. High near 30 with light wind. Low around 8 degrees.

  • Monday: Sunny with a high near 40 degrees and low around 15.

  • Tuesday (Halloween): Sunny with a high near 42 and low around 21.

  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54 and low around 26.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: First major winter storm to smack Fort Collins with snow, frigid temps

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