Summary:

Sunday's storm looks stronger, so expect a fun powder day for most areas with snow starting Sunday morning and continuing through Sunday evening. More than 12 inches of powder is likely east of the divide (Eldora, eastern foothills) with a good chance of 7-10 inches along and west of the divide. The plains east of the divide should see 3-6 inches. Early next week looks dry, then snow is likely next Wednesday and Thursday. Dry weather should return for Friday and Saturday, then I'm uncertain about Sunday the 20th and the days after. 

Details:

Friday will be a warm and sunny day. Use sunscreen!

On Saturday, clouds will increase and we'll see a few afternoon showers pop up. I don't think these showers will produce much precipitation, but you might see a few rain drops and snow flakes, and the winds might become gusty.

On Saturday night, expect a few inches in the mountains north of I-70, mostly after midnight.

Then the heavier snow should begin Sunday morning and continue through Sunday evening, likely continuing after last chair. All of the major models shifted the storm's path further west, and all of them also increased the storm's strength. This gives me more confidence that Eldora and the eastern foothills could see 12+ inches, and areas along and west of the divide will see more significant snow than I thought, perhaps around 7-10 inches. The skiing should get better and deeper through the day on Sunday, and since a few inches will fall after lifts close, Monday morning could be a fantastic time to grab first chair (if your mountain is open!) with cold and blue skies above and fresh powder at your feet. Here's a list of my snow forecast for each ski area: http://opsw.co/CO1-5

Each major model shows a strong trough dropping over Colorado on Sunday. Look for the cooler colors that dip southward, indicated by a red line which I drew over the map. Source: Meteocentre

Next Monday and Tuesday will be dry, then chances for snow return on Wednesday and Thursday though there is little agreement between the models about the details of the one or two storms that will move through during this time.

Long Range:

Next Friday and Saturday should be dry, then I see a storm trying to sneak through northern Colorado sometime between Sunday 4/20 and Tuesday 4/22.

JOEL GRATZ