First Snow of the Season for Denver This Weekend

There could be enough snow and falling temperatures to make for slippery spots Friday night into Saturday.

Advancing cold air will turn uphill along the Eastern Plains and along the Front Range of Colorado this weekend, just as a disturbance in the upper atmosphere comes sailing by.

The combination of the two may be just enough not only to bring the first snowflakes of the season, but the first accumulating snow away from the high country. (Last month, pockets of chilly air aloft brought a bit of snow to the some of the high country of the Rockies).

A few inches could fall on some of the foothills and the east-facing slopes of the Front Range.

During Wednesday, the first snow away from the high country fell on portions of Montana and western North Dakota. That storm was clobbering eastern North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota and neighboring Canada Thursday.

Other cities that could experience a bit of snow and slippery travel areas include Colorado Springs and Cheyenne, Wyo.

Much colder air will push in during and following the snow, setting the stage for a freeze and an end to the growing season for folks with vegetable gardens and flower enthusiasts.

A Blue Norther will sweep across Oklahoma and Texas into Saturday.

Some of the higher elevations of the Northeast could also receive their first snow of the season later this weekend from part of the same disturbance.

This will not be the earliest snow on record for Denver. That title belongs to Sept. 3, 1961, when 4.2 inches of snow fell.

According to the National Weather Service in Denver, there has been snow as early as Oct. 5, 2001, and Sept. 23, 2000.

The average date of the first measurable snow is Oct. 25.

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