Rain and a carpet of hazy fog rolled through the metro area today as a major cold front spread through the state.
At mountain peaks above 10,500 feet, snow flurries were forecast.
The Colorado State Patrol reported that U.S. 34, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, was closed because of inclement weather. Also, westbound Interstate 70 at the Eisenhower Tunnel was closed for about two hours at midday because of a seven-vehicle, weather-related accident.
The National Weather Service said lower elevations, including Denver and the foothills, will see plunging cool temperatures near 57 degrees, and a rainfall rate close to a tenth of an inch an hour.
A flash-flood watch for Kit Carson and Yuma counties will be in effect through Sunday afternoon.
So, if your houseplants are wilted and kitchen herbs drooping, today would be a good day to move them outside. If you do, make sure to bring them in by nightfall. The overnight low will be 47 degrees, and cold showers will persist through the evening.
On Saturday, forecasters expect more rain and thunderstorms. Prevailing northwest winds will be calm, between 5 and 9 mph. The weather service says the high will remain unseasonably cool, near 62 degrees, and the low will drop to 52.
Sunday, which forecasters initially said would be clear and sunny, now carries a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms during the day, declining to 30 percent overnight.
Mostly cloudy skies will bring a high near 71 and a low near 54 degrees.
By Monday, clouds will start to thin, and temperatures will begin climbing again. Monday’s 80-degree high will jump to 85 on Tuesday. The chance of rain will evaporate as sunny, bright skies return.
Liv Gold: 303-954-1311 or lgold@denverpost.com
