Hello, Snow? Tonight Could Bring First Flakes Above 11,000 Feet

Elk Mountains and San Juan Range could see a few inches fall as we say goodbye to August.

It's been hot. Like really, record-breakingly hot this summer into August, and many of us may have joked that we were ready for snow. Colorado's mountains are about to make those jokes a chilly reality.

On par for this time of year, the first snow could fall in the high country tonight into tomorrow on the Elk Mountains and San Juan Range above 11,000 feet. It's likely that it won't stick until about 12,000 feet with a few inches of accumulation at 13,000 feet and above.

Snow this time of year is pretty common in our high country (which generally has snowpack from the previous year into June, and sometimes July). It generally makes an appearance in late August/September, sticking mostly to the higher elevations until October. After that, it's fair game across the state—if you're a native, you can probably count more times than not that your Halloween costumes took a back seat to warm coats while trick-or-treating.

First snow generally happens in Denver around mid-October, and our higher-elevation towns see snow weeks earlier than that. Though, that's not to say the white stuff won't come earlier (or later). The earliest first snow in Denver happened on September 3 in 1961. The latest first snow in Denver occurred November 21, 1934.

Interestingly, several of Denver's major snowstorms happened in September and October.

The biggest September snowstorm in Denver hit the city between Sept. 26-28, 1936, and dumped 16.5 inches. Three of the city’s top 25 largest snowstorms on record came in October: 22.7 inches fell between Oct. 20-23, 1906; 21.9 inches fell between Oct. 24-25, 1997; and 16 inches fell in a storm between Oct. 3-5, 1969.

For tonight, you won't have to worry about blizzards. But if you're driving above 11,000 feet in certain parts of the state, you may see a few flakes flying.

Are you ready for snow? Did you know that Colorado is predicted to have a cold and snowy winter? Let us know your feelings on all things snow in the comments!