The doors to the Soda Rock Winery burst open as it burns in Healdsburg, California on October 27, 2019. - Powerful winds were fanning wildfires in northern California in "potentially historic fire" conditions, authorities said October 27, as tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate and sweeping power cuts began in the US state. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hurricane force wind gusts to impact parts of California
01:34 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

In just a span of four states, the weather is either burning hot or freezing cold. Literally.

While Californians grapple with wildfires torching their state, 14 million people across the US were under winter weather alerts Tuesday.

And it’s nowhere near winter yet.

Here’s what to expect across the country this week:

Denver could get walloped with 12 inches of snow

For the second time this month, the Mile High City is getting slammed.

weather gfx Winter Weather Alerts Tuesday Oct 29
CNN

The storm could leave anywhere from 6-12 inches of snow on the ground, the National Weather Service in Denver said.

04 calif fires 1026
Philip Pacheco/AFP/Getty Images

The California wildfires' startling stats

The Denver area was covered with 9 inches of snow Tuesday afternoon, and Denver International Airport was blanketed with nearly 6 inches, the NWS said. The snowfall gives Denver 10.7 inches of snow for the month, making it the 14th snowiest October on record.

More snow is expected to develop Tuesday night but the intensity will gradually decrease from northwest to the southeast overnight into the morning, forecasters say.

Temperatures will plunge into the single digits and highs on Wednesday will only reach the teens, the weather service said.

Central Plains will join the winter storm ‘party’

Back-to-back storm systems will move from the Central Rockies and Plains up through the Great Lakes, the National Weather Service said.

“Some got a taste of winter last night, but all of us get to join the party tonight thru Thursday,” the NWS office in Kansas City tweeted Tuesday.

Snow and freezing drizzle will cover the area Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

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CNN

“Halloween night looks dry, but uncomfortably cold,” the forecasters said.

Midwest trick-or-treaters might get spooked by snow

The first snowfall of the season is expected for parts of the Midwest over the next few days, the National Weather Service said.

That means Iowa, southern Minnesota, northern Missouri, northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan all could have a wintry Halloween.

weather gfx Thursday Oct 31 forecast temps
CNN

The Windy City of Chicago could be blanketed with snow by Halloween night.

“There have been six instances in Chicago’s history where snow has fallen on Halloween, with the only date of measurable snow being on Halloween in 2014,” the National Weather Service in Chicago said.

If Chicago gets a measurable amount of snow this Halloween, it would come 17 days earlier than normal.

CNN’s Joe Sutton, Michael Guy, Darran Simon and Taylor Ward contributed to this report.