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Dry For Broncos Kickoff, Weather Changes Through The Game

By Justin McHeffey

The Broncos game coincidentally falls on the most active day of our weather forecast. To follow up on a story written by my colleague Chris Spears, I'll update Sunday's expected snow chances in Denver.
Broncos Patriots
(credit: CBS)
Snow totals amounted to 2" the last time Denver hosted the Patriots. So what about the 2016 AFC Championship game?
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Taking a look at the big picture, the upper level pattern will bring Denver two days of very warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. High pressure dominates Colorado Friday and Saturday with highs in the 50s downtown.
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Things change on Sunday when a trough of low pressure drops down from northern California. This will allow a colder Canadian airmass to move in for the Broncos game, it'll also bring rain and snow to the metro area.
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The cold front will pass through Denver by 4 p.m. Sunday. This will be marked by a northerly wind shift and noticeably colder temps through the evening. High temperatures will come in the early afternoon and gradually fall through the game.
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The million dollar question is whether it rains or snows on the Broncos. For now, odds are that rain will develop during the 4th quarter of the game.
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It seems too mild for snow to be an issue until after 6 p.m. Although the front will be here by game time it'll take a few more hours for the snow to form. A decent windbreaker (under your Broncos jersey) would be a good idea if it gets rainy by the end of the game. If I've learned anything in the Weather Lab, layers and wool are king.

Justin McHeffey provides nightly reports from the Mobile Weather Lab. He travels Colorado in search of Mother Nature's most powerful and beautiful conditions. Like his Facebook page Meteorologist Justin McHeffey and follow him on Twitter @WeatherMcHeffey.

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