Denver Snow, Freeze-Up This Weekend

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

December 8,2012; 8:25AM,EST

A push of cold air and a moderate storm system will bring snow to the the Rockies, as well as a freeze-up to part of the High Plains this weekend.
Cold air will take the plunge from north to south over part of the Great Basin, the Rockies and High Plains this weekend. Temperatures will be slashed by 20 to 40 degrees across the region, when compared to much of this past week.
According to Western Weather Expert Ken Clark, "Around Denver and many other locations along the eastern slopes of the Rockies, this will bring the coldest weather of the season so far and since early last February."
As is sometimes the case with a press of cold air, snow will fall during the transition.

"While a huge amount of snow is not forecast, up to a few inches of snow from Cheyenne, southward to Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo can partially melt then quickly freeze later Saturday into Saturday night," Clark said.
Even a light coating of snow followed by a rapid freeze up can make for very slippery, dangerous travel.

The storm will split into two parts. One will veer eastward across the northern Plains. Another will drop southward across the southern Rockies and southern Plains.
A half a foot of snow or more could fall on some of the ski resorts in Colorado, Utah and northern New Mexico Saturday night into Sunday. But, it all depends on how much of the moisture remain with the southern storm system.
Thumbnail image by Photos.com.