So when autumn has truly arrived, the full complement of winter precautions should click into place and stay in use until the late spring, where this particular story began. Even in Colorado, weather forecasting has come a long way. The late-night TV forecast is a great help in planning for the next day or so. It's probably completely useless beyond that time, except for the satellite cloud patterns, cold fronts, and high and low barometer symbols. This broader area information changes more slowly and is at least a hint of what the future holds.
Some weather patterns seem to be peculiar to certain mountain areas in Colorado.
There are periods in the summer when areas of the San Juans seem to be rain-forest country. In the rest of the state, it is always a good idea to start as early as practical. You just might miss the afternoon rain. One of the most useful tricks is to stop occasionally, long enough to watch the cloud motions. Notice direction and speed, as well as the colors of the clouds.