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

Andrew Kenney

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.

People who had to leave the city's emergency cold-weather shelter at the Denver Coliseum, after it closed at 7 a.m., board the last bus back towards downtown. Nov. 25, 2023.

Expecting temperatures in the low 20s, Denver will activate emergency overnight shelters

Weather forecasters predict Thursday and Friday night will hit the low 20s with possible snow.

The old Denver Post building downtown is illuminated at dawn, Sept. 18, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

The City of Denver is looking to buy the Denver Post building at Colfax and Broadway

The building will host a variety of legal services staff.

A protest in solidarity with the people of Palestine on the Colorado State Capitol steps. Nov. 9, 2023.

The Jewish National Fund USA’s Denver conference and the protests around it, explained

The event, scheduled to begin Thursday, has become a focal point in recent weeks for local reactions to the Israel-Hamas war.

Kristen Prolic (left to right), Erin Lynne and Jordan Hayes slay at karaoke on a Saturday night at Tennyson Street's Berkeley Inn. Nov. 18, 2023.

Street Week: Tennyson

Berkeley Inn just wants to be your neighborhood bar

The second longest-running business on Tennyson is never short of cold ones, karaoke and welcoming vibes.

Inside the historic Elitch Theatre in West Highland. Oct. 26, 2023.

Street Week: Tennyson

It’s been three decades since live shows played the Historic Elitch Theatre. Could the curtain rise again next summer?

The 130-year-old building has survived flooding, a changing northside, and a family of foxes collecting creepy dolls.

Lisa Calderón speaks to press about her first Latino Scorecard for Mayor Mike Johnston, in which she have the city a D grade according to her group's rubric of issues and recommendations. Nov. 29, 2023.

Latino community group gives new Denver mayor low marks after four months in office

The score is based on ratings given across categories, such as: economic justice, education equity, leadership culture, public safety, gentrification and displacement, and immigration.

2277 S. Tennyson St. in Harvey Park. Nov. 17, 2023.

Street Week: Tennyson

Tennyson Street is home to a ‘French country manor,’ the birthplace of Harvey Park

2277 S. Tennyson St. was surrounded by open fields before they transformed into the eponymous neighborhood.

Slot homes on Tennyson Street, by 43rd Avenue. Nov. 29, 2023.

Street Week: Tennyson

Slot homes are some of Denver’s most hated buildings. What’s it like living in one?

Despite a few growth-induced headaches, Matt Koenig and his neighbors on Tennyson are pretty happy.

Dave Vayhinger casts a ballot in front of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Election Day, June 6, 2023.

Denverites will vote in 2024 on prohibiting the sale of fur and closing slaughterhouses in the city

It's unclear how many fur shops would be affected and workers affected by slaughterhouse closings would receive workforce training and other help.

A sidewalk encampment on Curtis Street near Broadway. Oct. 24, 2023.

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability now has a permanent director: Jamie Rife

After appointing interim heads of HOST, Mayor Mike Johnston has picked the director of the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative to lead the city's housing and homelessness department.