By 5 a.m. Thursday, 20 inches of snow is expected to fall on Mount Zirkel, the highest peak of Colorado’s Park Range of the Rocky Mountains, according to the NWS.

Colorado’s northern and central mountains are poised to see their final round of snow and cooler temperatures for the first half of January, followed by another dry period and a return to above-normal temperatures.

A quiet Colorado mountain lake near Denver offers peaceful paddling, shoreline fishing, and uncrowded campsites surrounded by pine-covered foothills.

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect for the Elk and West Elk Mountains, as new snowfall is expected to create dangerous avalanche conditions heading into the holiday weekend.