20 inches of snow possible in parts of Colorado this weekend

Two more rounds of snow are on the way to Colorado, with some modeling predicting up to 20 inches of snow over the next three days.

Friday's storm is expected to blanket the northern mountains in light snow followed by a second, stronger storm hitting from Saturday to Sunday. During this period, most mountains are expected to see five to 10 inches, favoring the northern, central, and northern San Juan mountains, though some peaks could see higher totals.

One forecasting map, published by Joel Gratz of OpenSnow, shows areas where up to 20 inches of snow could hit, including a stretch of peaks north of Steamboat Springs, as well as a few other spots.

 "Snow showers will develop in the northern mountains today and linger through Sunday," the National Weather Service said. "Tomorrow the snow showers will spread to the other mountain ranges and some high valleys."

Strong winds could also bring limited visibilities to the Front Range mountains and foothills, with wind gusts up to 60 mph expected.

If you have mountain travel plans, be prepared for winter driving conditions. Keep your vehicle stocked with extra food and water, a flashlight, shovel, and warm clothes in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Editor’s Note: All weather statements and snow accumulations are subject to change. Check the official  Colorado Department of Transportation website for up-to-date information on road conditions and the  National Weather Service for updates on incoming storms. For your mountain forecast, we recommend visiting OpenSnow. For daily avalanche conditions, always check with  avalanche.state.co.us before heading into the backcountry.