As expected, snow began falling in downtown Denver after 3 p.m. Winter weather is expected to continue overnight for northeastern Colorado, including Denver, and some metro areas could get up to 7 inches of new snow by Thursday morning.

A winter weather advisory has been posted by the weather service for the Denver metro area from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday.

FORECAST: Hour-by-hour breakdown of Denver weather

A winter storm warning has been posted for most of Colorado's eastern plains, including Sterling, Fort Morgan and Limon.

Widespread mountain areas will also receive new snow from the weather system, and widespread heavy snow is expected overnight in northeastern and northern Colorado.

Four to seven inches of snow is expected along the Front Range, with slightly heavier amounts south and east of the metro area.

WEBCAMS: Current conditions in Denver and the mountains

Heavy snow is expected to reduce visibilities overnight Wednesday and travel could be hazardous as area roads become snow packed, icy and slick, the weather service warns.

Travelers flying into or out of Denver International Airport can expect delays as DIA prepares for 3 to 7 inches of snowfall. DIA recommends that travelers check the status of their flight at www.flydenver.com.

Freezing drizzle and a slight chance of thunderstorms are in the weather service forecast for the eastern plains.

The heaviest snow is expected east of I-25 and south of I-76, according to the weather service, with overnight accumulations of up to 12 inches.

Northern mountain areas should receive between 4 to 8 inches of snow, with up to 10 inches

Junior Katie Harris of Oklahoma City hides under her hooded jacket as she walks across the campus of Colorado College in Colorado Springs on Feb. 20, 2013. Snow began falling in the Springs late Wednesday morning, by 3:00 p.m. it was also falling in downtown Denver. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
for mountain locales south of I-70.

In Denver there's a 90 percent chance of snow overnight Wednesday, with accumulations of 3 to 5 inches.

SUBMIT: Send us your snow photos

Snow is likely Thursday morning in Denver before 11 a.m., the weather service reports.

The high temperature Thursday in Denver should top out near 28 degrees. New snow accumulation on Thursday in the city should be about 2 inches.

Snow remains in the forecast for the mountains on Friday and through the weekend.

Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kierannicholson