WASHINGTON COUNTY HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

 ...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM AND DIFFICULT/NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TRAVEL STARTS THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FRONT RANGE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS, AND THIS EVENING FOR THE PALMER DIVIDE AND BOULDER/DENVER METRO AREAS... ...RAIN AND SNOW MIXED FOR PLAINS FARTHER EAST BUT SOME TRAVEL IMPACTS STILL EXPECTED...  This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado.  .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight  A high impact March snowstorm is on its way. Travel will become nearly impossible in the Front Range mountains and foothills later today and tonight as heavy snow develops. Snowfall rates up to 3 inches per hour will be possible. In the lower elevations, rain showers will become more widespread late this afternoon and evening, and isolated thunderstorms will be possible, too. The rain is expected to mix with and change to snow over portions of the I-25 Corridor this evening and overnight, with the heaviest snow expected to fall from around Longmont and Boulder southward through Denver and the Palmer Divide area. Travel conditions will deteriorate quickly as the heavy snow begins.  Avoid travel later today in the high country, and beginning mid to late evening along the I-25 Corridor. After these times, only travel in and emergency, and be sure to take along a winter survival kit in case you become stranded.  .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday  The winter storm will impact the region through Thursday night, then a gradual improvement is expected on Friday. This storm will bring very heavy snowfall to to the Front Range mountains and foothills with anywhere from 18 inches to as much as 4 feet of snow expected. Travel may be impossible in the mountains and foothills.  Heavy snow will impact the Denver metro, Palmer Divide, and the rest of the I-25 corridor. Up to 2 feet of snow is possible over the Palmer Divide, and 8 to 16 inches possible around metro Denver. Travel in these areas will be very difficult from Thursday through Friday morning, with the worst conditions expected during the day Thursday. The snow will taper off Thursday night into Friday morning.  Drier and warmer temperatures are expected this weekend which will allow for travel conditions to improve in the heaviest hit areas.  .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...  Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight. However, any snowfall reports or reports of rain changing to snow will be appreciated.