What you need to know about Denver in 5 min.

Become a member and be a better Denverite every day.

Become a member and be a better Denverite every day.

Become a member and be a better Denverite every day.

Become a member and be a better Denverite every day.

Be prepared for a messy Denver commute with snow on Friday morning, Jan. 20

Andrew Kenney

Jan. 19, 2017, 1:53 p.m.

Jan. 19, 2017, 1:53 p.m.

Traffic on Park Avenue. Nov. 17, 2016. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) — Traffic in Denver, Nov. 17, 2016. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

It’s 53 degrees right now, which by Denver logic means it’s time to get ready for snow. Expect light snow to develop over the mountains this afternoon, with a chance it will spread to the city through tomorrow morning.

Accumulations in Denver itself should be pretty low – less than half an inch, according to the National Weather Service – but that may be enough to ruin your commute, especially combined with rain and slush. Points south and west of the city have a greater chance for accumulation, according to Weather5280’s detailed forecast.

The mountains, meanwhile, should get anywhere from a few inches of snow to a foot through Friday.

Also, this might be the first of three storms to hit the state from now through next Wednesday, according to OpenSnow. The second wave is expected Saturday through Sunday morning, with decent chances for all ranges, and a third wave might hit Sunday night, OpenSnow predicts.

In other words, a light powder day Friday and a bigger one Sunday. Get ready by reading all the sneaky ways skiing has hurt me.

The University of Denver at dawn, Feb. 11, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

College-aged people are driving an increase in coronavirus cases in Denver, so the city’s making new rules

The city announced public health orders for colleges and universities that take effect immediately.

The road into City Park is closed to cars. Sept. 24, 2020.

The city is taking steps to keep (some) parks (mostly) car-free long after the pandemic is gone

Parks officials are trying to balance a lot of factors, including the fact that not everyone can walk or bike to nature and recreation. They'll want to hear from you.

A woman who told reporters her name is Kate was hit by a driver following a protest for Breonna Taylor on Sept. 23, 2020.

Another driver vs. protesters scene in Denver leaves one person injured

A rally for Breonna Taylor had just ended Wednesday night when a familiar scene unfolded.

Local 48 on Tennyson Street is closed for social distancing. April 28, 2020. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Berkeley’s Local 46, a beloved neighborhood bar and biergarten, will close at the end of October

Pour one out.

People gathered at the State Capitol on Sept. 23, 2020, following a Kentucky grand jury's announcement in the Breonna Taylor case.

Protesters gather in Denver following Breonna Taylor grand jury announcement

Following the protest, a driver hit a protester. She sustained minor injuries.

A driver in a blue Jeep speeds through a protest demanding justice for Elijah McClain. A protester fired a gun as the vehicle drove by, shooting other protesters on July 25, 2020.

No charges for man seen driving Jeep into Aurora protest

But the DA said any new evidence could make him reconsider his decision.

Denver Police officers cruise the 16th Street Mall on motorcycles at dawn. Sept. 18, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Denver police officers face federal lawsuit after f-word arrest near the 16th Street Mall

Two men were protesting the treatment of people experiencing homelessness in September 2018 before they were arrested.

Work by Frida Kahlo and María Izquierdo. (Courtesy: Denver Art Museum)

A Mexican modernist exhibition featuring works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera heads to the DAM next month

Tickets go on sale in October.

Jasmine (left to right), Jadah and Jordan Ward paint a wall during CRUSH Walls 2020 outside of Denver Central Market on Larimer Street. Sept. 18, 2020.

Lindee Zimmer’s CRUSH Walls mural enlisted local families, including kids

“It’s cool, because I have never done anything like this before. I never thought that anybody would ask me to draw anything but my art teacher. ”

A forced cleanup of encampments along Arapahoe Street in Five Points. Sept. 22, 2020.

An encampment clean-up in Curtis Park delayed by snow started Tuesday before sunrise

Denver housing officials and homelessness service providers are seeing encampments grow amid the economic slowdown created by the pandemic.

The Denver Housing Authority's headquarters in the La Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood. Sept. 16, 2020.

What’s a Section 8 housing subsidy, and what’s the need for them like in Denver?

DHA and local agencies across the country administer the federal government’s biggest low-income housing assistance program

A screen shot of a video captured by Twitter user @benkile_ shows the arrest of Michael Jacobs on July 29, 2020.

Everything we know — and don’t — about the claim that a Denver police officer violated a protester with a baton

DPD opened an internal investigation 22 days after the alleged incident.

First-time voter MaLinda Medina fills out her ballot outside of her home in Five Points, June 4, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Here’s everything you need to know about signing your Denver ballot so it’s not rejected

And it begins with a personal tale of failure.

Sie, right, and Keith Jive, center, paint as Brooke Juno looks at her wall from afar in a River North Art District alleyway on Sept. 17, 2020.

There’s CRUSH Walls, and then there’s the informal street art that happens nearby

Here's who is behind some of the underground art scene in Denver.

Students at Denver’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College introduced a resolution that will incorporate more voices into DPS' curriculum.

Student-led initiative will incorporate more Black, Indigenous and Latino voices into DPS’ curriculum

The “The Know Justice, Know Peace Resolution” resolution lays out a course for DPS to revamp some of its K-12 curriculum over the next two years.

"Colfax Strong" art by Kaitlin Zeismer on a East Colfax Avenue electric box. Sept. 16, 2020.

This weekend, an “Independents Day” event on Colfax celebrates the street’s resilience

Visitors can check out public art, compete for prizes and receive deals and promotions from local businesses.

A modular ADU and garage installed behind Simple Homes co-founder and COO David Schultz, July 9, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

What’s an ADU, and why do my Denver neighbors want (or not want) one?

First things first: ADU stands for accessory dwelling unit. They're also known as carriage houses, granny flats or mother-in-law suites.

Hopelessly lost in the corn maze. (Chloe Aiello/Denverite)

Things to do in Denver this weekend, Sept. 18-20

How about them Nuggets!

Protesters block the entrance to Aurora Police's District One building, July 3, 2020.

Six demonstrators charged after their involvement in protests in Aurora

The charges include inciting a riot and kidnapping.

District 1 Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval at her desk. Aug. 5, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Granny flats get a preliminary OK in the Chaffee Park neighborhood

With the Planning Board's approval, the re-zoning proposal now goes to a City Council committee.