DENVER – The coldest temperatures of the season are in the forecast for Denver so far as heavy frost is expected late Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.

The drastic temperature change will come as the urban corridor could see a light rain-snow mix Wednesday morning, with a system triggering winter weather warnings for Colorado's higher elevations.

“We're not expecting any real accumulation in the metro area here,” Denver7 weather forecaster Katie LaSalle said. “It will primarily be our central and southern mountains that will be hit the hardest, but the entire Denver metro north to the Colorado border will be very cold as a freeze watch goes into effect early Thursday.”

Ahead of the weather change in Denver beginning Wednesday, conditions will remain dry and windy Tuesday, with strong gusts possible across the metropolitan area and eastern plains.

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“Depending on which side of the state you are on, the weather varies a lot,” LaSalle said.

Travelers along I-70 should be aware of changing conditions Tuesday.

“We are seeing more widespread precipitation over the Western Slope impacting the on-ramp to I-70, but right now it looks like wet roads, but some snow is falling and accumulating in higher terrain,” LaSalle said.

In its Tuesday morning forecast discussion, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder wrote: “The possible need for a snow squall warning over the Eisenhower Tunnel or Vail Pass was considered, but road temperatures should be warm enough to sufficiently reduce impacts.” “where a warning is not necessary.”

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Strong winds will continue along the Front Range as temperatures fall into the upper 50s late afternoon and early Tuesday evening in Denver.

“Not much moisture is expected in the eastern half of the state, with a small break in the mountains overnight, but we will see more snow in the higher elevations again Wednesday morning.”

Multiple winter weather advisories for higher snow accumulations and strong wind gusts are in effect in Colorado's mountain communities through midday Wednesday, according to the NWS.

Parts of the Eastern Sawatch, La Garita and Sierra Madre mountains are under the winter weather advisory where travel could become difficult.

Higher elevations subject to winter weather advisories could result in total snow accumulations of up to several inches, including up to 12 inches in these areas along the northwestern communities of San Juan, Gore, Elk, Grand, West Elk and Sawatch Mountain, the NWS said.

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“So keep in mind that when snow blows in areas, it can be a treacherous journey at times,” LaSalle added. Aspen, Vail, Crested Butte, Telluride and Ouray and other mountain communities are also under a winter weather advisory until noon Wednesday.

While the Denver metro is not in effect for a winter weather advisory due to potential travel issues, the drop in temperature will trigger a freeze warning starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. Thursday. The NWS upgraded the freeze warning to a warning as of early Tuesday afternoon.

Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Castle Rock and Greeley are included in the freeze warning, where “freezing temperatures are expected to be between 22 and 28 degrees,” the NWS said. “Frost and freezing conditions are expected to kill unprotected sensitive vegetation,”

Ahead of the freeze warning, commuters in Denver will likely wake up to humidity Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday at about 8 to 9 a.m. in the subway, Denver7's future show shows pockets of possible rain-snow mix.

The NWS said “light snow accumulations” were possible along the Front Range and in urban areas of Colorado Wednesday morning, but there likely wouldn't be much more than small accumulations on lawns and grassy areas.

According to the NWS model consensus, snow totals in Denver are expected to be between a trace and 0.25 inches.

Here's a look at some possible snowfall totals in Colorado through Wednesday evening:

• Copper mountain: 3.2 inches
• Fair play: 2.0″
• Bailey: 2.5 inches
• Idaho Springs: 3.0 inches
• Black Hawk: 2.8 inches
• Estes Park: 4.8 inches
• Red Feather Lakes: 1.7 inches
• Vail Pass: 3.0 inches

After the frost warning, temperatures in Denver will only rise to 50°C again on Halloween. “It will reach the mid to upper 50s in the afternoons for trick-or-treaters, but you'll definitely want to dress up in these costumes this year for Halloween.”

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High temperatures in Denver will climb back into the upper 60s with more sunshine on Friday and Saturday before increasing clouds return on Sunday, where a high of just 53 degrees is expected before a return to rain and snow on Monday.

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