DENVER -- Get ready for a tricky forecast over the next 12 to 36 hours, with the potential for a brief, but potent winter storm. Numerous winter weather advisories and watches have been posted for Colorado.

Advisories cover many mountain locations through Thursday. Winter weather watches have been expanded to include the immediate Denver metropolitan area.

Denver is under a winter storm watch for the potential of receiving 5 to 10 inches of snow by Thursday night. The eastern plains are under a blizzard watch for the potential of several inches of snow, along with winds to 50 mph. Road closures are possible, so if you are traveling east Thursday, monitor the latest weather reports.

Remember, a watch means just that -- watch the forecast details closely because severe winter weather is possible in the next 24 to 48 hours.

The 24/7 Weather Center has been busy tracking a fast moving cold front for several days now, slated to arrive late Wednesday into early Thursday. Originally this front was expected to pass through with little to no moisture, but now there is a wild card in the forecast.

Tropical Storm Paul, which developed off the Baja of California this past weekend, has weakened, but continues moving slowly to the northeast toward the Mexican coast.

Along with the approaching cold front, an area of low pressure is forecast to strengthen near the Texas panhandle, pulling moisture from Tropical Strom Paul into the Front Range.

The timing of these weather elements will be critical to the forecast, with everything from just a few flakes of snow to several inches of snow possible late Wednesday into Thursday for Denver and much of the eastern plains.

The critical part of this forecast is where the low pressure develops. A bit to the east would mean little to no precipitation in Denver, while slightly west could mean several inches of heavy, wet snow.

Regardless of the snow forecast, you need to prepare for much cooler weather and strong, north winds with the passage of the cold front.

Please stay with 7NEWS, TheDenverChannel.com and Comcast Digital Cable channel 247 for the latest on this developing weather situation.