Tow trucks assist the Colorado State Patrol to clear stalled
vehicles from westbound Interstate 70 on Floyd Hill just west of
the Denver metropolitan area on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009.
A winter storm is forecast to continue in Colorado through the
day Wednesday.(AP Photo/Peter M. Fredin)
Update, 6:30am, Thursday, October 29: The early winter storm that never seems to end continues to pound the city of Denver. For the latest on the storm, please click here for the new story.
Update, 8:10pm: Colorado weather has its extremes and this storm certainly is shaping up to fit that bill. Snow totals are mounting with areas to the west and south receiving the most. In the Denver metro area, most areas have received at least six inches with most recording more and additional accumulations are expected overnight.
- Scroll toward the bottom to see the latest storm reports
As the temperature has started to drop and traffic on the roads has decreased, snow is slowly starting to accumulate on roadways. Bridges and ramps are getting very slick and soon the rest of the road system will follow suit.
At Denver International Airport, most airlines have reported some cancelations and many arrivals and departures are delayed. Deicing operations are in effect so those flights that are getting out are slow in doing so.
Numerous school districts have already announced they will be closed on Thursday. Among them are St. Vrain Valley Schools, Adams District 12, Adams District 50, Brighton School District 27J, Jeffco Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools. Click here for a complete listing.
- See our slideshow below for pictures of the weather in action!
- Check it out: Live Denver weather radar, conditions, forecast
- Got pictures of the storm? Send them to tony@exweather.com and we will post them!
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A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for much of the state including the Denver area until 6:00pm Thursday. The storm system that is causing widespread problems is moving a bit slower than originally forecast and that will delay the end of the snow. An additional 4 to 8 inches of snow can be expected overnight followed by 3 to 7 inches more during the day on Thursday.
Total snow accumulations for the storm event will range from 14 to 28 inches are possible with up to 36 inches in the foothills west of Denver. On the plains accumulations will range from 6 to 12 inches and blizzard conditions are possible.
Chain laws are in effect for most Colorado mountain passes including at the Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail Pass, Berthoud Pass, Monarch Pass and La Veta Pass. US 287 is closed from Ted’s Place to the Wyoming border. In Wyoming, I-80 between Laramie and Cheyenne is closed as is I-25 from Cheyenne to Wheatland.
The best advice at this time is to stay home and avoid travel if at all possible. Needless to say, tomorrow morning’s commute will be a rough one for those heading to work. Please allow plenty of extra time and take it slow.
Update, 5:00pm: Snowfall rates continue to increase and it is spreading further to the east. In the latest Winter Storm Warning update from the National Weather Service, they have said that the storm is moving slower than expected and that means the snow will last for longer than originally forecast.
As such, forecast snow totals have increased. Accumulations from 14 to 28 inches are possible with up to 36 inches in the foothills west of Denver. On the plains accumulations will range from 6 to 12 inches and blizzard condtions are possible.
Update, 4:15pm: The snow keeps falling and the end is a ways away yet. Roads have been wet and slushy to this point however as the sun goes down and temperatures drop we will see more accumulation and icing of the roadways. That, coupled with winds blowing at up to 25mph will create hazardous driving conditons across the Front Range.
In the high country, US 287 from Ted's Place to the Wyoming border is closed due to adverse weather condtions. Chain laws are in effect for most major passes including at the Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail Pass, Berthoud Pass, Monarch Pass and La Veta Pass. In Wyoming, I-80 between Laramie and Cheyenne is closed entirely.
At the current time snowfall rates are increasing and expanding from Denver north into Weld and Larmier counties and east of I-25. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour can be expected for the next couple of hours in the hardest hit areas.
Total snowfall accumulations are still forecast to be in the 10 to 18 inch range in the metro area and up to 24 inches in the foothills. Locally higher amounts may be seen in some areas. See below for a snowfall forecast map. Also see below for the latest storm reports from National Weather Service storm spotters.
Original story, 12:16pm: Denver’s October 2009 snowstorm continues in full force. Heavy snow has been and is currently being experienced across much of the Front Range. Storm reports from spotters are showing totals from 15 to 20 inches in the foothills and 5 to 8 inches across many parts of the metro area.
Winds will be increasing as the day progresses making what are already tough driving conditions worse. Needless to say afternoon rush hour is likely to be a big mess as moderate to heavy snow will continue to fall.
Total snowfall accumulations are still forecast to be in the 10 to 18 inch range in the metro area and up to 24 inches in the foothills. Locally higher amounts may be seen in some areas. See below for a snowfall forecast map.
There are reports of tree branches breaking on trees that still have leaves and this will continue to be a problem. Power outages are also a possibility as the snow sticks to and weighs down power lines.
At Denver International Airport, some airlines have canceled flights including United, Frontier and Southwest. If you are flying out today or tomorrow or are expecting someone to arrive, check with your airline before going to the airport.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect today lasting through 6:00pm Thursday. The warning area includes not only Denver but much of northeastern Colorado, the mountains and the Western Slope. Winter storm conditions will prevail throughout today and most of Thursday so things are only going to get worse from here on out. Please be careful! Travelers should check the Colorado Department of Transportation site for the latest road conditions and closures.
Latest storm reports from the National Weather Service:
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM HEAVY SNOW S LONGMONT 40.17N 105.11W
10/28/2009 M11.5 INCH BOULDER CO NWS EMPLOYEE
0700 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 NW FORT COLLINS 40.58N 105.09W
10/28/2009 M15.0 INCH LARIMER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0700 PM HEAVY SNOW 6 S FORT COLLINS 40.47N 105.07W
10/28/2009 M14.0 INCH LARIMER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0656 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 S EVERGREEN 39.63N 105.34W
10/28/2009 M20.3 INCH JEFFERSON CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0638 PM HEAVY SNOW 7 N GLEN HAVEN 40.55N 105.43W
10/28/2009 M17.0 INCH LARIMER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0633 PM HEAVY SNOW GENESEE 39.69N 105.27W
10/28/2009 M25.8 INCH JEFFERSON CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0630 PM HEAVY SNOW 3 E HIGHLANDS RANCH 39.55N 104.92W
10/28/2009 M12.0 INCH DOUGLAS CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0626 PM HEAVY SNOW 3 SE PINECLIFFE 39.90N 105.38W
10/28/2009 M35.0 INCH JEFFERSON CO CO-OP OBSERVER
0615 PM HEAVY SNOW 3 S EVERGREEN 39.59N 105.34W
10/28/2009 M27.5 INCH JEFFERSON CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0612 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 WSW BROOMFIELD 39.93N 105.08W
10/28/2009 M12.5 INCH BROOMFIELD CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0610 PM HEAVY SNOW E BOULDER 40.03N 105.25W
10/28/2009 M17.0 INCH BOULDER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0606 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 SW GOLDEN 39.72N 105.25W
10/28/2009 M20.2 INCH JEFFERSON CO TRAINED SPOTTER
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
0603 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 SW FORT COLLINS 40.55N 105.08W
10/28/2009 M14.0 INCH LARIMER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0601 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 WSW BROOMFIELD 39.93N 105.09W
10/28/2009 M18.6 INCH BROOMFIELD CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0600 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 S DENVER 39.68N 104.97W
10/28/2009 M11.0 INCH DENVER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0600 PM SNOW DENVER INTERNATIONAL AI 39.87N 104.67W
10/28/2009 M6.0 INCH DENVER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
4.0 SINCE MIDNIGHT.
0600 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 SSE FEDERAL HEIGHTS 40.71N 102.46W
10/28/2009 M11.0 INCH PHILLIPS CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0556 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 ENE NEDERLAND 39.98N 105.44W
10/28/2009 M28.6 INCH BOULDER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0545 PM HEAVY SNOW N LONGMONT 40.17N 105.11W
10/28/2009 M10.5 INCH BOULDER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0539 PM HEAVY SNOW GREELEY 40.42N 104.74W
10/28/2009 M7.5 INCH WELD CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0537 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 S EVERGREEN 39.58N 105.34W
10/28/2009 M18.5 INCH JEFFERSON CO TRAINED SPOTTER
15.0 INCHES SINCE MIDNIGHT.
0535 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 NW EVERGREEN 39.68N 105.41W
10/28/2009 M17.0 INCH CLEAR CREEK CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0535 PM HEAVY SNOW 12 NW GOLDEN 39.86N 105.38W
10/28/2009 M28.5 INCH JEFFERSON CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0534 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 WSW HIGHLANDS RANCH 39.54N 105.01W
10/28/2009 M11.5 INCH DOUGLAS CO TRAINED SPOTTER
DRIFTS TO 18 INCHES.
0532 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 N CHERRY HILLS VILLAG 39.67N 104.95W
10/28/2009 M10.5 INCH DENVER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0530 PM HEAVY SNOW BOULDER 40.03N 105.25W
10/28/2009 M14.0 INCH BOULDER CO NWS EMPLOYEE
ON ROOF OF NWS OFFICE.
Denver Snowfall Forecast Map
Image Courtesy the National Weather Service
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