DENVER — Several surges of bitter cold are taking aim at Colorado and will bring the lowest temperatures of the winter season to the state and Denver metro area to end the week.
Single digit high temperatures arrive for both Saturday and Sunday and subzero low temps are expected, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder.
“By early Friday morning we’ll see more sunshine but some single digit lows, it’s going to be a cold start on Friday,” said Denver7 meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo. “Light snow is possible this weekend and highs are only going to be in the teens on Saturday. On Sunday, we may see a few cities not even make it into the double digits.”
The Arctic cold front will sweep into the central Rockies starting Thursday not only plunging temperatures but bringing another chance of snow in the mountains, which will stick around in Colorado’s higher elevations through the weekend.
The NWS warned Colorado's mountains could see a prolonged period of heavy snow starting Friday through the weekend.
Denver metro communities will again see a chance for snow on Thursday.
“We’re going to see a chance for some light snow throughout the day on Thursday, likely around a half inch to an inch at best for the metro area,” said Hidalgo. “Definitely colder, we’ll be in the low to mid 20s tomorrow afternoon.”
A winter weather advisory goes into effect 5 p.m. Wednesday through 5 p.m. Thursday for portions of Colorado's central and north central mountain ranges including the cities of Cameron Pass, Winter Park and also covers the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Between 3 to 8 inches of accumulation is possible with wind gusts up to 45 mph. The NWS said mountain passes could become snow covered leading to slick and hazardous conditions.
While more weather alerts were expected to be issued for the bitter cold temps this weekend, a wind chill advisory is already set to go into effect starting at 7 p.m. Friday for Colorado's far northeastern counties where dangerously low wind chills of 25 to 35 degrees below zero were possible, the NWS said.
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Light snow returns to the forecast for the Denver area on Saturday and Sunday.
Denver7’s Super 7-day forecast shows 3 degrees for a low temperature on Friday and then 0 degrees for a low overnight Friday into Saturday morning.
Saturday’s high should reach the upper teens in Denver and then drop to -3 degrees overnight Saturday into Sunday morning.
The coldest low temperature in Denver is forecasted for overnight Sunday where subfreezing temperatures are expected. Denver’s low temperature for Monday is -5 degrees with more flurries possible during the day.
Monday’s expected low temperatures as forecast by the NWS:
- Boulder: -5°
- Castle Rock: -8°
- Denver: -8°
- Evergreen: -6°
- Fort Collins: -13°
- Ft. Morgan: -12°
- Greeley: -12°
- Julesburg: -13°
- Kremmling: -9°
- Limon: -13°
- Longmont: -12°
- Sterling: -14°
In addition to the temperature forecast, wind chills are expected to be well below subzero. Here's the latest wind chill forecast for Monday morning from the NWS:
- Boulder: -20°
- Castle Rock: -25°
- Denver: -24°
- Estes Park: -26°
- Evergreen: -24°
- Fort Collins: -29°
- Ft. Morgan: -32°
- Greeley: -30°
- Julesburg: -36°
- Kremmling: -27°
- Limon: -34°
- Longmont: -27°
- Sterling: -36°
The NWS said on Wednesday there is still some uncertainty as to the timing and intensity of the Arctic cold front.
Ahead of the plunge in temperatures across Colorado, Xcel Energy shared tips to help customers save on energy bills.
Xcel Energy recommended these energy saving tips:
- Lower thermostats to 68 degrees or lower
- Adjust programmable thermostats to lower temps while away or asleep
- Open blinds during daylight hours to take advantage of direct sunlight
- Close blinds/drapes when the sun sets to retain heat
- Run ceiling fans in the clockwise direction
- Open interior doors to help circulate air
Temperatures will struggle to return to normal next week with Tuesday’s high temp in Denver expected to only warm into the low 30s.
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