What to expect with snow storm in Colorado, Fort Collins: Schools on delayed start Tuesday

Here are some key topics we'll cover in this story about the upcoming snowstorm in Colorado:

• Timing of the snowstorm, including when it will come to Fort Collins

• Travel impacts

• Snowfall total forecast

A strong snowstorm is moving into Colorado on Monday, Nov. 28.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the mountains of Larimer, Grand and Jackson counties — where up to 16 inches of snow is forecast — and a winter weather advisory for Fort Collins and much of the Front Range, where up to 6 inches is forecast.

We shared updates from Monday below. Looking for Tuesday's updates on the storm and its impacts? You can find those here.

Thompson School District will delay Tuesday's start by two hours

Thompson School District schools and district offices will operate on a two-hour delay to the start of school Tuesday, Nov. 29 due to expected snow.

The delay includes adding two hours to morning bus pick-up times, morning programs and school start times at all levels.

Morning bus pick-up will be two hours later than the normal pick-up time. Afternoon bus drop-off times will not be adjusted. School will end at the regular scheduled time.

For additional information on how the delayed start impacts schedules and programs within the district, visit https://www.thompsonschools.org/Page/23543

— Miles Blumhardt

Poudre School District announces delayed start for Tuesday

Poudre School District announced its schools will start two hours later than usual on Tuesday, Nov. 29, due to the forecast weather. The delay means buses will plan to be at stops two hours later than usual, though students may have longer wait times depending on road conditions, the district noted. If you're dropping your child off or they walk to school, plan for them to arrive at school two hours later than normal — and "please do not arrive earlier" than that, the district said in its email to parents.

Here are some other key details to note:

• Early Childhood Education morning sessions are canceled due to the delayed start, but afternoon sessions will continue as usual. Full-day sessions will follow the two-hour delay.

• AlphaBEST won't offer before-school care Tuesday, but afternoon offerings through the program will continue as scheduled.

• The district plans to dismiss schools at normal times.

For more information, visit psdschools.org.

— Sarah Kyle

Snow moves into mountains Monday and Front Range starting Monday night

A winter storm warning is in effect for areas including the higher elevations around Cameron Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, Rabbit Ears Pass and Medicine Bow Range from noon, Monday, Nov. 28, to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for much of the Front Range, foothills from Fort Collins to Denver and the northeastern plains from 11 p.m. Monday to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Here's a more detailed look at the timing of the storm, according to the weather service forecast:

Monday afternoon: Snow starts in the northern mountains, intensifying as the day wears on with conditions worsening by Monday night.

Monday late afternoon/evening: Snow forecast to start in the western foothills and intensifying into Monday night and Tuesday morning

Late Monday night: Snow moves into the Interstate 25 corridor, with the heaviest snow expected Monday night through Tuesday morning.

More:New Colorado avalanche forecast tool makes avoiding killer slides easier

Timing of snowstorm for Fort Collins

Monday: 30% chance of rain after 5 p.m.

Monday night: 80% chance of snow, mainly after 11 p.m. Snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday: 80% chance of snow, mainly before 11 a.m., with north wind 7 to 15 mph gusting as high as 23 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Major roads, Tuesday morning commute expected to be impacted

Travel in the winter storm warning area is expected to be very difficult with 8 to 16 inches of snow and wind gusting to 50 mph at higher elevations. For road conditions, call 511 or visit cotrip.org/home.

Chain and traction laws are expected to be enacted for mountain travel.

The National Weather Service has a high certainty for timing of travel impacts in mountains but less for the Front Range.

Roads impacted: Expect varying degrees of hazardous travel conditions starting Monday afternoon on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 40 and moving east to U.S. Highway 34, U.S. Highway 287, I-25 from Fort Collins north to the Wyoming border and Colorado Highway 14 later in the day.

Tuesday morning commute: The storm track favors more snow and thus greater travel impacts on I-25 starting around Loveland north to the Wyoming border and possibly in the Denver metro area.

Where the heaviest snowfall is forecast with Monday's storm

Fort Collins has received 5.4 inches of snow this season and this storm is expected to match that total, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service in Boulder includes in its forecast a probabilistic snow forecast to show the chances of snow at certain amounts. The Coloradoan started using the probabilistic snow forecast in our stories last year to offer a better perspective and will use it again this season.

Fort Collins: 5 inches expected. 96% chance of more than 1 inch, 89% chance of more than 2 inches, 54% chance of more than 4 inches and 5% chance of more than 6 inches.

Greeley: 4 inches expected. 92% chance of more than 1 inch, 78% chance of more than 2 inches, 25% chance of more than 4 inches and 1% chance of more than 6 inches

Boulder: 5 inches expected. 98% chance of more than 1 inch, 94% chance of more than 2 inches, 62% chance of more than 4 inches and 3% chance of more than 6 inches.

Denver International Airport: 3 inches expected: 90% chance of more than 1 inch and 63% chance of more than 2 inches

Denver (downtown): 3 inches expected. 93% chance of more than 1 inch, 76% chance of more than 2 inches and 15% chance of more than 4 inches

Walden: 5 inches expected: 99% chance of more than 1 inch, 95% chance of more than 2 inches, 70% chance of more than 4 inches and 22% chance of more than 6 inches

Winter Park: 8 inches expected. 100% chance of more than 2 inches, 99% chance of more than 4 inches, 84% chance of more than 6 inches and 30% chance of more than 8 inches

Sterling: 3 inches expected. 82% chance of more than 1 inch, 54% chance of more than 2 inches and 2% chance of more than 4 inches

Breckenridge: 5 inches expected. 98% chance of more than 1 inch, 92% chance of more than 2 inches and 44% chance of more than 4 inches

Vail Pass: 8 inches expected. 99% chance of more than 1 inch, 98% chance of more than 2 inches, 89% chance of more than 4 inches, 63% chance of more than 6 inches and 18% chance of more than 8 inches

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Monday updates: Fort Collins snow forecast, what to expect in Colorado