Colorado Weather: Arctic Cold And Winter Snow Coming Back

DENVER(CBS4)- On the weather map we have a big ridge of high pressure pushing eastward across the southern Rockies. At the same time a cold front is tracking across the Pacific Northwest.

The flow in between warmed up the eastern plains into the 70s and 80s on Sunday. Denver tied the record high of 74 degrees set originally in 1934!

Now, we turn our attention to the big cold front expected for Monday. A cold Arctic Trough of Low pressure is poised to ooze in over the Rockies in the week ahead. The associated cold front will move into the state early Monday morning bringing in wind, cold, drizzle and snow with it.

For Denver initially there will be a mix of drizzle and light snow for the Monday morning commute. Then, the Front Range turns to all snow by afternoon. With 3 to 7" inches possible for the Denver metro area from Monday afternoon thru Tuesday. With higher amounts in and near the foothills. Denver and northeast Colorado is under a Winter weather advisory for Monday into Tuesday. With a Winter Storm Warning in and near the Foothills for significant snowfall.

Many of our mountains have a Winter Weather Advisory in place for snow and wind combined. Some areas will see up to a foot of snow and wind gusts up to 45 mph!

Temperatures over the Denver metro area will drop below freezing Monday through Wednesday. With single digits and below zero through mid-week!