Blustery warm sunny weather in metro Denver Monday will lead to a freezing night with possible rain as a new storm sweeps over the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
And weather service forecasters warned of “critical fire weather conditions” starting Monday afternoon in the Denver area and across southeastern Colorado, including Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Dry grass, combined with strong winds gusting at speeds up to 55 miles per hour on the high plains, is expected to raise the fire risks as seen over the past four days.
In Denver, residents will see a high temperature of 69 degrees Monday, forecasters said. Wind in the afternoon is expected to gust at speeds up to 44 miles per hour. Rain at night may turn to snow though with little accumulation, the weather service said, and forecasters expected temperatures Tuesday no higher than 37 degrees with snow likely and possible accumulation of up to two inches of snow on Tuesday.
❄️Snow develops in the mountains late this afternoon and evening, spreading slowly east and onto portions of the adjacent plains by early Tuesday morning. Majority of travel impacts confined to the mountains, possibly spreading into the foothills by late Tuesday. #COwx pic.twitter.com/U4ZfAhTCPv
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) April 3, 2023
Snow storms rolling eastward across the mountains are expected to bring several inches of snow, complicating travel in the mountains, likely reaching Colorado’s Front Range on Tuesday. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center issued a warning that snow slides are happening frequently, advising caution on mountain slopes.
#CAICcmountains MOD(2of5) A surge of avalanches on April 1 highlight the unusually dangerous avalanche conditions for April. It is not springtime yet and you can still trigger a large and dangerous avalanche on most northerly and easterly-facing slopes. https://t.co/E7yJWqyZwj pic.twitter.com/melDC9FfUP
— CAIC:Statewide Info (@COAvalancheInfo) April 2, 2023
Critical fire weather conditions expected this afternoon and evening for the Southern Front Range foothills, South Park, Palmer Divide, Denver area and adjacent plains for strong and gusty winds up to 55 mph and low humidities. #cowx pic.twitter.com/n6CCSF48Gp
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) April 3, 2023