Snow is expected to make its way into Denver and across the Eastern Plains on Friday, signaling the start of a freezing weekend, National Weather Service forecasters said.

It is January in Denver and the National Western Stock Show is in town, which can only mean one thing ... cold and snowy Colorado weather is around the corner. It is a tradition at this point, and this year will be no different. An arctic blast will bring temperatures 20 to 40 degrees below average and a chance for snow.

There will be occasional mountain snow showers over the next few days, but temperatures in Denver will warm up in the meantime.