Aspen is gearing up for its first atmospheric river since Thanksgiving week, with a potent storm set to bring heavy snowfall to the region starting Thursday night.

Erin Walter, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, said the storm carries significantly more moisture than recent systems and could deliver up to a foot of snow in town by Friday morning, with snow continuing into Saturday.

“We have a system coming through Thursday evening through Friday, with a lot more moisture packed in than we’ve seen recently,” Walter said. “For the bulk of the system coming through on Thursday into Friday, Aspen can see up to a foot of snow in town — on the high end. The surrounding terrain and higher elevations can expect to see a foot and a half, up to two feet.”

Most of the Roaring Fork Valley is expected to receive around a foot of snow by Friday.

“This system is tied to an atmospheric river coming out of the Pacific,” Walter said. “This storm is coming from the southwest, so it’s giving all of the Colorado mountains snow, including the San Juans.”

She said the early stages of the storm would be warmer due to southwest winds, bringing mostly snow to the high elevations and rain to lower areas. As the cold front moves through on Friday, temperatures will drop sharply, delivering heavier snow to the lower elevations.

According to OpenSnow.com, Aspen Highlands is forecast to receive 17 inches on Friday, with Snowmass expecting 18 inches. Aspen Mountain is set to get 15 inches, while Buttermilk could see 14.

For locals like Baily Warren, a sales associate at Ute Mountaineer, the fresh snowfall is a welcome change.

“We haven’t had snow here for the past couple of weeks, and what we have received over the past couple of days has been good,” Warren said. “It’s just good to get snow back on the mountain, and the more snow we can get, the better.”

Warren said he plans to hit the slopes Friday or Saturday, joining the many eager skiers and snowboarders looking to make the most of the fresh powder.