Winter Wonders: Colorado Storm Set to Blanket I-25 with Snow and Chill

As surprising as it might appear, Fort Collins is predicted to break its 260-day record of no days with at least 1 inch of snowfall.

Fort Collins and the Front Range urban area from the Wyoming border down to south of Castle Rock will be under a winter weather advisory from 6 p.m. Monday to 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm system will also usher in the coldest temperatures seen during this initially mild winter.

This is not an extreme snowstorm, but there will be sufficient snow and cold to create challenging travel conditions for the Tuesday morning commute, particularly along Interstate 25. Students in the Poudre School District are expected to return to school from winter break on Tuesday.

What is the expected snowfall in Fort Collins, and how chilly will it become?

Following a second consecutive year of a snowless December, the city is anticipated to get 3 to 4 inches of snow, as stated by the National Weather Service.

If this occurs, the city will double its accumulation of snow for this fall and winter. So far, the city has received only 1.7 inches of snow this season at the official weather station on the primary Colorado State University campus.

Here is the forecast:

• Monday: 20% likelihood of snow after 11 a.m., rising to an 80% likelihood at night. High temperature of 35 degrees and a low around 17.
• Tuesday: 40% likelihood of snow before 11 a.m. Predominantly cloudy, with a high near 26 and a low around 1 with a wind chill of minus 6. This contrasts with a low this season of 10 degrees on Jan. 1.

Predicted snowfall totals across Colorado

As reported by the National Weather Service:

• Red Feather Lakes: 3 inches
• Greeley: 3-4 inches
• Estes Park: 1-2 inches
• Boulder: 4-6 inches
• Denver International Airport: 4-6 inches
• Denver: 3-4 inches
• Fort Morgan: 2-3 inches
• Castle Rock: 3-4 inches