Up to a foot of snow will fall in Colorado this week, but there is a risk of heavy snowfall

Snow is expected to fall in Colorado by Wednesday morning, ending a drought that has plagued the state throughout December. While totals are expected to drop by one to a few inches in most locations over the next few days, a larger storm is likely on the way.

According to the National Weather Service, the region of the state that will be hardest hit this week is south of I-70 and west of I-25. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the southern part of the Front Range should see the lowest totals.

In the most likely scenario, up to 30 cm of snow will fall in southern Colorado, while 15 cm or less will fall elsewhere, except for some peaks west of Gunnison, where it could be up to 20 cm. A high-end snowfall forecast tells a similar story, with snowfall totals of up to 12 inches more widespread across southern Colorado and potential for up to 12 inches of snowfall at peaks just east of Steamboat Springs as well.

As a result of this storm, a “Winter Weather Advisory” was issued in Colorado for an area that includes Trinidad and a portion of I-25.

What’s perhaps even more notable is that another round of snow is likely on the way, bringing a “risk of heavy snowfall” to the northwest corner of the state. This forecast is featured on the National Weather Service’s “experimental” mapping associated with major snowstorms. It shows this probability that prevails from December 14th to 16th. Generally, when any part of the state is mentioned on this map, there is a chance of snow even outside the heavy snowfall zone.

After a relatively dry start to December, the statewide snowpack fell to 107 percent of the norm for this point of the season on December 9th.

Visit the National Weather Service website for additional updates.