An arctic blast is pushing cold air into many parts of the U.S. this week, and Colorado is expected to feel the brunt of the effects from Friday evening until Monday. Wind chill temperatures are expected to dip below zero degrees Fahrenheit in the greater Denver and Boulder regions on Sunday and Monday according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Arctic blasts occur when cold air moves south from near the Arctic Circle into Canada and the U.S. It is caused when the polar vortex is disrupted.
The cold temperatures caused by this arctic blast are predicted by the NWS to be felt until Tuesday morning. Residents of greater Denver and Boulder are recommended to take precautions like dripping faucets overnight and setting thermostats to a minimum of 65 F to prevent pipes in their homes from freezing.
In addition to cold temperatures, the NWS predicts light snow on Friday night into Saturday morning, as well as Sunday night into Monday morning. Some parts of greater Denver and Boulder will likely see snow accumulations of up to four inches between Friday night and Monday morning. Impacts of snowfall and an extreme drop in temperature Friday night, according to the NWS, could lead to icy roads on Friday evening.
