Early winter storm settles in over Denver - More snow to come

October 28, 6:04 AMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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The view from I-25 & 23rd Ave looking south at 9:45am.  Invesco
Field at Mile High is barely visible in the distance.  (CDOT)

Update, 9:45am – The snow continues to pile up. Light to moderate snow will continue across the Denver area. With the additional snowfall many streets and highways are starting to see accumulation and traveling is quickly becoming hazardous. Area residents need to be aware of the deteriorating conditions and exercise caution.

• Click here for the latest story about the Denver snowstorm

These are some of the latest updates from across the area:

• Many metro are cities are on accident alert. If you are in an accident, exchange information with the other driver and contact the police afterwards.
• I-25 northbound at Highway 7 is current closed due to an accident and winter conditions. Traffic is exiting at Highway 7 and getting back at the on-ramp. Expect long delays.
• I-80 in Wyoming is closed from Cheyenne to Laramie.
• Denver International Airport reports that several airlines have canceled flights including United and Frontier. Check with your airline before going to the airport. Winter driving conditions can be expected on Pena Boulevard.
• Loveland Pass / US-6 has re-opened over chain laws are in effect.

Original posting - October 28, 6:04 AM: A major early winter storm has arrived in Colorado and while snow accumulations thus far have been relatively minor, much more is to come. As expected the initial stages of the storm brought rain Tuesday evening which changed to snow overnight as the temperature dropped. Thus far anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of wet, slushy snow have fallen in the Denver metro area with more in the forecast.

The morning commute today is sure to be a slow, wet one. While most streets in the central part of Denver are currently clear from snow, they are extremely wet and areas to the west are now beginning to see accumulation on the highways. Bridges and overpasses are becoming slick and will present challenges for drivers today.

In the high country, chain laws are in effect on I-70 westbound to the Eisenhower Tunnel and eastbound at Mt. Vernon Canyon. Loveland Pass / US-6 has been closed due to adverse conditions. Chain laws are also in effect for the Berthoud, Red Mountain, Monarch and Wolf Creek passes.

Snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches can be expected between Wednesday morning and Wednesday evening in the Denver area. Areas along the foothills and the Palmer Divide can look forward to 6 to 12 inches.

This storm however is a multi-day event and the snow if forecast to continue into Wednesday night and mid-afternoon Thursday. Total accumulations for the event will range from 8 to 14 inches in the Denver area and 10 to 18 inches in the foothills. Some areas where upslope conditions are ripe may experience higher accumulations.

As is oftentimes the case with storms like this, wind will be a factor as well. Blowing snow will make for drifting snow and decreased visibility. This will certainly impact driving conditions and has already begun to take its toll on flights into and out of Denver International Airport. Frontier Airlines has announced it is proactiviely canceling some flights (details here).  Numerous school in the metro area and the foothills are reporting that they will be closed for the day Wednesday.

With as wet as the snow is, the weight of the snow may become a problem for power lines and trees. Not all trees have lost their leaves yet and those that have them will quickly become weighted down with the heavy, wet snow. Similarly, as the snow sticks to power lines we may start to see power outages in some areas.

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. Residents should take their time if they must travel and be prepared.

Forecast Snow Total Map

Image Courtesy National Weather Service