The Arctic blast we have been talking about all week is working its way down to us now. When it arrives, temperatures will drop and we can expect to see some snow.
Friday starts out nice enough with highs in the mid-40s by noon. However, by mid-afternoon, the initial cold front arrives and the mercury will start dropping. Snow looks to arrive between 4:00pm and 5:00pm, potentially creating some challenging conditions for the latter part of rush hour. Snow will continue overnight and temperatures will be dropping and potentially hitting the single digits by tomorrow morning.
Saturday will be cloudy and very cold with highs only in the teens. Light snow is expected off and on throughout the day but with only minimal additional accumulation.
There is a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the period from 4:00pm this afternoon to 5:00pm tomorrow evening. The National Weather Service is warning that 3 to 7 inches of snow is possible during that time with Thornton being in the 4 to 6 inch range of their forecast. As we have been stating this week, this type of extreme cold system does have a reputation of failing to live up to snowfall forecasts. We tend to think Thornton will be at the low end of that range, possibly below.
Saturday evening some light snow will be possible but it will end by midnight and skies will begin clearing. This will allow for very cold overnight temperatures, possibly below zero.
Sunday will be the nicest day of the period but quite cold. Look for mostly sunny skies above and highs only in the teens. Sunday night, some light snow with minimal accumulation will be possible. Lows again may dip below zero.
For Martin Luther King Jr Day, snow will end by about 9:00am and skies will clear. Conditions will then be calm but highs may top out only in the upper single digits. Monday night, with clear skies, temperatures will plummet to a good bit below zero.