DENVER—A rambling storm delivered up to a foot of snow in the mountains and rain at lower elevations Sunday, with a steady drizzle falling on fans at the Colorado Rockies playoff series.
The snow caused some fender-bender vehicle mishaps but no injuries along Interstate 70 at the Eisenhower Tunnel as motorists were unfamiliar with driving in winter-like weather conditions, Colorado State Patrol Master Trooper Ron Watkins said. Chain laws were in effect on a number of mountain passes.
In Denver, the freezing rain made Denver Marathon participants pretty uncomfortable as they ran through neighborhood streets. “You cannot move very fast. It was tough,” said marathon winner Jonathan Ndambuki, a Kenyan who trains in Santa Fe, N.M. “I even started freezing a little.”
“Cold and wet, not good running conditions,” said Jose Amado Garcia, who won the half-marathon by nearly five minutes.
The storm headed into Colorado Saturday, prompting a number of storm advisories along mountain ranges before it was to move out late Sunday. The moisture was much needed but there were no major problems, National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Cooper said.
No delays were reported at Denver International Airport.
At midday, National Weather Service snowfall amounts included: Breckenridge, 12 inches; Fairplay, 6 inches; Boulder, 4-5 inches; Dillon, 5 inches; and Evergreen, 2 inches.
The weather prompted Keystone Resort to say it would kick off snowmaking operations Sunday night, and Breckenridge Ski Resort planned to start blasting snow guns at the end of the week. Both resorts plan to open Nov. 9.
The Rockies met the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field Sunday night to continue their playoff series.
