Snowy weather will hit most of Colorado’s mountains this weekend, and the added snowfall should push the statewide snowpack above last season.

Last March, the state received almost no snow. So as long as we continue to get storms throughout the spring, we should have no problem outpacing the 2012 snowpack.

The first shot of snow began Wednesday night and should continue through midday Thursday with an incredibly moist storm moving in from the west. Temperatures will be mild, but on most ski hills the precipitation will be snow.

Most of the state should see 4 to 8 inches though the central mountains around Crested Butte, Aspen and Monarch — and even down toward Telluride could see higher accumulations.

After a lull Friday, a colder storm will move in from the northwest. This storm is lacking moisture but still should provide a few fluffy inches by Saturday morning for most western mountains.

One trick to this storm is that it will strengthen east of the mountains and create an easterly upslope wind. This should bring snow to the foothills east of the divide and the higher elevations of the Palmer Divide between Colorado Springs and Denver.

Lighter snow showers should continue over the mountains on Sunday and Monday before a return to dry weather much of next week.

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For snow forecasts for ski areas, visit OpenSnow.com.

Colorado College’s Hunter Fejes celebrates with goalie Joe Howe (31) after defeating North Dakota 4-3 in overtime in their WCHA Final Five quarterfinal college hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2013, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Genevieve Ross) Photo by

Genevieve Ross