The mountains will see heavy snow and strong winds throughout Sunday, especially along the northern Colorado border, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow is expected to decrease in the valleys and Interstate 70 corridor by late afternoon, but those northern areas will likely continue to see significant snowfall this evening, according to a hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service Sunday morning.
Wind gusts up to 60 mph and continued snowfall will make travel difficult Sunday across the state due to blowing snow and poor visibility, forecasters at the National Weather Service said in the outlook.
Just before 6 a.m., blizzard-like conditions were moving over the mountains north of I-70 while just a dusting of snow hit lower elevations, the NWS posted on social media.
A Winter Storm Warning was issued for Rabbit Ears Pass and the North Central Mountains until 11 p.m. Sunday.
Down in Denver, light snow is also likely.
The city will see snow before noon, but NWS meteorologists said Denver can expect less than half an inch of snow accumulation Sunday.
A sunny day and a high of 46 degrees will make it hard for the snow to stick. Those temperatures might feel colder though, as winds reach 20 mph in the city, according to the NWS forecast.
Overnight, cloud coverage will roll in and temperatures will dip down to 32 degrees.
The east slopes of the front range and the plains will see high winds throughout Sunday, NWS said.
Gusts of 30 to 50 mph can be expected in the mountains, with wind reaching 20 to 40 mph on the plains and up to 80 mph in the front range foothills, according to NWS.
The main threat for strong winds will be in the late afternoon and evening, NWS meteorologists said. The winds on the plains will diminish overnight, but it will stay windy in the foothills Sunday night through Monday.
After the last of the scattered alpine snow showers clear Monday, all of Colorado can expect dry and warmer weather through Thursday, NWS forecasters said.
Snow will return to the mountains Friday and Saturday, with a chance of snowfall on the plains as well.
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