Prepare for a slow, sloppy commute this morning as a cold front is expected to bring snow to the metro area and the mountains.

"It's going to snow all day," Kyle Fredin, forecast meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder, said Wednesday.

The snow is expected to start overnight, bringing 1 to 3 inches by this afternoon, and a total of 2 to 4 inches before the storm moves out Friday.

Chilly temperatures will accompany the snow, with highs today reaching only the 20s and lows in the teens. Average highs at this time of year are in the 40s, with lows in the 20s.

On Friday highs are expected in the upper 30s, with lows in the 20s.

Milder weather is predicted for the weekend, with highs in the lower to mid-50s and lows in the upper 20s and 30s.

Ski resorts could be rejoicing, as 4 to 10 inches of fresh powder is expected to fall today in the high country.

The mountains received a blanket of new snow last week, with Breckenridge alone receiving 20 inches - enough to open Chair 6 terrain Wednesday, with back bowl access expected by this weekend.

Skiers and snowboarders who hope to take advantage of the new snow need to bundle up, however. Highs today in the mountains will be 14 to 24 degrees, with lows dropping to zero to 8 degrees.

Another chance of fresh snow comes late Sunday night through Monday.