Winter weather will come in like a lion in March, with a winter storm warning, winter weather advisory and winter weather watch posted for widespread areas of Colorado.

A winter storm watch is in effect for the metro area from Saturday morning through Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Moisture aloft will flow across Colorado Thursday through Saturday night, bringing heavy snow to the mountains, with up to 48 inches in some areas by Saturday evening, the weather service said. Winds will gust up to 45 mph at times, producing areas of blowing snow and poor visibility. Snow in the northern mountains is expected to be heavy from Thursday night through Saturday.

Cold & active wintry period Friday thru Sunday. Heavy snow also possible for the Front Range Foothills & adjacent plains. #cowx pic.twitter.com/IogRxnLZy3 — NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) March 1, 2019

A moist Pacific jet stream will combine with an arctic cold front to bring snow to the Front Range and Eastern Plains beginning Friday night and running through Saturday night, the weather service said.

The winter storm watch for the metro area includes the southern Front Range foothills, Boulder and the western suburbs, Denver, Castle Rock and Greeley. The watch runs west into the Interstate 70 corridor in the mountains and includes Idaho Springs and Georgetown. Heavy snow will be possible on Saturday, with up to 8 inches of snow in some spots. Drivers should be prepared for winter conditions.

In Denver on Friday there’s a slight chance for rain and snow before noon with an increasing chance after 2 p.m., the weather service said. Clouds should increase throughout the day, and the high temperature will be near 51 degrees. The chance for precipitation Friday in the city is 30 percent, with little or no snow accumulation expected.

On Saturday in Denver, snow is likely after 11 a.m. and skies will be mostly cloudy. The chance for precipitation is 60 percent, and new snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible. The high temperature Saturday will be about 31 degrees. Saturday night in Denver snow will be heavy at times, with a low temperature of 5 degrees, and the chance for precipitation is 80 percent. There’s a 30 percent chance that snow will continue overnight, Saturday into Sunday, before it tappers off at about 11 a.m. On Sunday in Denver skies will remain cloudy and the high temperature will be about 17 degrees.

Monday and Tuesday will be cold with mostly sunny to sunny skies in Denver. Monday’s high temperature in the city is expected to be only 21 degrees, with a high on Tuesday of 35 degrees.