DENVER — Colorado will experience a dramatic change in the forecast with wind and high fire danger Thursday that will turn to snow by Friday morning.

The 9NEWS Weather Impact Team has issued a Weather Impact Alert on Friday and Saturday morning as Colorado could see accumulating snow to start Easter weekend.

Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday night, a sharp cold front will move into Colorado from north-to-south, dramatically plunging temperatures.

Many areas of Colorado, including the Denver metro area, will initially see rain and perhaps a clap of thunder before a mix of rain, graupel, and snow before changing over to all snow late Thursday night.

Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for much of western Colorado.

It will snow most of Friday in Colorado, with most accumulations coming during the pre-dawn and evening hours due to the high sun angle this time of year and near-freezing temperatures.

Roads will be slick at times Friday morning and Friday evening, but roads will remain mostly wet during the day on Friday.

In Colorado’s mountains, snow continues all day on Friday. Travel on Interstate 70 through the mountains will be rough all day on Friday, and it won’t really improve until later Saturday in the high country.

In all, we’re calling for 6-14 inches in the mountains of Colorado and 2-5 inches in Denver, with higher amounts in the foothills — 4-12 inches, depending on your exact location.

This spring snowstorm will be a potential branch-snapper of a heavy, wet snowstorm, so be sure to shake those trees. 

Colorado looks to clear out for Easter Sunday and warm up into next week.

• THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and windy with a chance for late day or evening showers and storms, flipping to snow late tonight. High 74, low 30.
• FRIDAY: Cloudy and cold with snow likely. High 35. A few overnight snow showers possible, low 26.
• SATURDAY: Cloudy and chilly with mainly morning snow showers. Afternoon clearing, sunshine, mild. High 43, low 25.
• EASTER SUNDAY: Partly cloudy and mild. High 61, low 36.
• MONDAY: Mostly sunny and warmer. High 70, low 39.
• TUESDAY: Mostly sunny, breezy and mild. High 69, low 38.
• WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny, breezy and mild. High 70, low 43.