More than 100 people were stranded in cars between Golden and Boulder Sunday night as winds gusted to up to 89 mph, making roads impassable, authorities say.
The National Weather Service gave a high wind warning in the foothills from Castle Rock to the Wyoming border, said Carl Burroughs, a meteorologist in the weather service’s Boulder office.
The warning is in force until noon tomorrow.
“It’s blowing all the snow back onto the roads,” Burroughs said. “It is causing hazardous conditions. There are several reports of white-out conditions. Stay home.”
The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Arvada West High School at 11325 Allendale Drive, said Jacki Kelley, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman.
Sustained winds were between 40 and 50 mph, Burroughs said.
The National Weather Service was reporting winds of 78 mph southeast of El Dorado Springs; 82 mph northwest of Berthoud; 89 mph northeast of Arapahoe Peak in Boulder County; and 72 mph south of Nederland.
The wind was blowing snow onto roads, stranding numerous drivers, said Arvada police Commander Gary Creager.
People are having a hard time telling where the road is and are driving into ditches, Kelley said. Some people were stopping in the middle of the road or driving extremely slow. As fast as plows cleared the roads, snow was covering them back up again, Kelley said.
Emergency workers were going from car to car checking to see if people were inside cars, she said. They were taking people to the shelter or safe locations, she said.
Among the roads closed include Highway 93 from Golden to Boulder; Highway 72 from Indiana Street to Highway 93; Indiana north of 80th Avenue and 86th Parkway between Kipling Street and Indiana.
Police were inundated with calls from stranded motorists, Creager said.
“People should avoid any travel unless it is absolutely necessary,” Burroughs said.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
