Snow!

First measurable snowfall blankets High Country

'BRECKENRIDGE – Several ski areas in the High Country received a dusting of white snowflakes Monday morning, the first measurable snowfall of the season.

With only 53 days until Breckenridge and Keystone fire up the chairlifts for opening day, resort officials are hopeful the early snow will translate to a great snow year in Colorado.

9NEWS Meteorologist Marty Coniglio says the High Country can expect a couple inches of wet snow above 11,000 feet, but it should have zero effect on the driving conditions in the lower areas.

Breckenridge and Keystone will open on Friday, November 9 and Vail is scheduled to get under way Friday, November 16. Beaver Creek will open the following week on Wednesday, November 21.

Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area typically compete to be the first ski area open nationwide. Last year, A-Basin opened first, on October 13 and Loveland opened a day later.

Loveland Ski Area is scheduled to begin snowmaking Wednesday evening.

Currently, the major draw in the High Country is the beautiful fall foliage. For more information on the autumn colors in Colorado, click here.

Down in the metro area, Marty says to expect partly cloudy skies on Monday, with a couple showers here and there. Highs on Monday in Denver will be in the upper 60s and 70s. Overnight, skies are expected to clear with lows dropping into the upper 40s and lower 50s.

Most of the rain and thunder is expected in the afternoon and evening in the central and eastern plains. Marty says highs in the mountains will be in the 60s.

Out on the eastern plains, temperatures will range from the low 70s in the northeast to the upper 80s in the south.'