Transportation officials are bracing for the worst again as forecasters issued a Winter Storm Watch on Wednesday afternoon that includes Colorado and northwestern Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Transportation warned those traveling in northwestern Kansas beginning today to monitor weather and road conditions.

Forecasters predicted snowfall could accumulate from 10 to 15 inches west of a line from McCook, Neb., to Colby and Russell Springs by Saturday.

Temperatures will likely stay warm enough in Lawrence and other parts of the state through the weekend to keep the snow away, forecasters said.

“It looks for the most part of it to be a rainy-type situation for us,” said Steve Kays, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Topeka.

On Wednesday evening, Kays said Lawrence had a 40 percent chance for snow Sunday and a slight chance for some Sunday night.

But travelers may be in for the most worry heading into another holiday weekend. Officials at the Denver International Airport were preparing to deal with another storm just one week after a blizzard stranded thousands of passengers there and affected flights across the country.

Forecasters warned of possible impassable roadways, particularly on Interstate 70 west of Oakley.

KDOT Northwest District Engineer Chriss McDiffett said the state may need to close roads because of a possible blizzard and a possible lack of hotel rooms.