Denver weather: Snow, cold front on the way Tuesday morning

From warm, dry conditions to near-freezing temperatures and snow, Denver’s weather is about to feel much different from the beginning of the week.

A quickly approaching cold front is moving across the state, dropping temperatures and bringing snow to the Front Range.

The front has already caused snow squall warnings near Greeley and Fort Collins as it moves south from Wyoming, and it could reach Denver anytime before 9 a.m.

Denver could get some rain in that time, depending on if the precipitation arrives before the temperature drops, but any precipitation will likely be snow by afternoon.

Denver could see up to a couple inches of snow, but totals will likely stay around an inch. Warm ground from the past few days and daytime sun should limit travel impacts in the metro area.

The mountains are a different story; heavy snow started falling Monday, and a winter storm warning is in effect through Tuesday night. Up to more 12 inches of snow could fall through the evening.

Travel through the mountains could be dangerous.

The high temperature in Denver is 43 degrees. Temperatures will be right around freezing by 5 p.m., and the overnight low is 15 degrees. Denver will open severe weather shelters overnight Tuesday for the cold temperatures.

Tuesday will also be breezy, with gusts reaching up to 31 mph.

The cold and snowy weather won’t last long, with a sunny Wednesday on the horizon and temperatures returning to the 50s and 60s the rest of the week.

The next snow chance in Denver will be Sunday.