DENVER — Denver could see its first below-zero readings of the season this weekend.
A blast of Arctic air will likely impact Colorado before and after the weekend. Low temperatures across the Denver metro area and Colorado could drop below zero by Saturday night and Sunday night.
High temperatures are likely to stay in the teens on Saturday and Sunday.
Forecasted low temperature in Denver
- Thursday — 7°
- Friday — 3°
- Saturday — -1°
- Sunday — -8°
- Monday — 5
Denver has a chance for snow off and on from Wednesday through the weekend. There is a good chance for heavy snows in Colorado's mountains from late Friday through possibly early Monday that could measure 1 to 3 feet.
Coloradans will need to take precautions to protect life of humans, pets, and livestock during the frigid stretch of days.
The National Western Stock Show is currently underway in Denver, running through Sunday, Jan. 21.
Denver Water has suggestions to help residents prevent pipes from freezing.
Tips to prevent frozen pipes
- Open cabinet doors underneath the sink to allow the household air to keep pipes warm.
- If there is an attached garage to the home, keep those doors closed. "Occasionally, plumbing is routed through this unheated space, leaving it vulnerable to winter's worst," according to Denver Water.
- Find the faucet furthest from where water enters the house and let it to drip slowly. Allowing water to move through the pipes will reduce the chance of water freezing. Set a bucket in the sink to collect the water that drips, so it can be saved for other household uses.
- Set the thermostat above 65° if you are leaving the house for multiple days.
What to do if a pipe is frozen
- If a pipe has already frozen, Denver Water said it is important to thaw the pipe immediately. Be sure to shut off the water to the house before starting to thaw the pipe; this will prevent any potential flooding if the pipe has been broken.
- Do not to use any high intensity heater such as a blow torch, as these can damage the pipes. The best practice is to use a hair dryer, or a space heater, to blow hot air into the area and thaw the ice inside the pipes. Pipes that are warmed too fast may break, according to Denver Water.
- Check the effected area for leaks after thawing to make sure the freeze didn't damage your pipes.
- If access to the frozen pipe is tricky, you do not have the proper tools or the pipe has broken, contact a plumber.
Snow day at National Western Stock Show
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