Heavy snows are expected to pummel the Colorado mountains, starting in the southwest part of the state today and spreading to the central and northern mountains later today and tonight.
Strong winds will generate widespread blowing and drifting snows in the Colorado high country, the National Weather Service reports.
A winter storm warning has been posted by the weather service for widespread areas of southwestern Colorado and the southern mountains, including the San Juan River Basin.
City offices in Durango, except for essential personnel, were closed this morning because of the snow as were LaPlata County offices and schools in the Durango School District 9-R, said Elizabeth Bartley, a spokeswoman with the Durango Police Department.
Classes at Fort Lewis College before 10 a.m. were canceled because of snow.
Snow accumulations today of up to 16 inches are expected by 6 p.m. in the San Juan mountains. The heaviest snowfall should be in the foothills north and west of Durango. Heavy snowfall also is expected north and east of Pagosa Springs, the weather service said.
Snow accumulations over the last 24 hours, according to Colorado Ski Country USA, include 16 inches at Purgatory ski area near Durango, and nine inches at Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Telluride ski areas.
An avalanche warning has been posted by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center for the San Juans through 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Travelers in the mountains today should be prepared for poor conditions because of the snow and winds, the weather service warns. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
Mountain passes will be icy and snow-packed and visibility will be greatly reduced, the weather service reports.
Today’s weather in Denver should be partly sunny and breezy with a high temperature of 52 degrees, according to the weather service. Tonight there will be a 20 percent chance of snow showers in the city under mostly cloudy skies and a low temperature around 22 degrees.
Tomorrow in Denver, skies should be mostly sunny with a high temperature around 37 degrees.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
