Snowfall in the mountains was heavier than forecasters had expected today, leaving travelers and road crews to scramble with an inch or more of early winter weather on the last day of summer.
Rain, light snow and cold is expected to linger from the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains until Thursday, with lows in the 20s in parts of the state and highs in the 50s.
A freeze warning is in effect from midnight to early morning Tuesday for the Western Slope and the San Luis Valley.
Chain restrictions and closures impeded travel on Loveland Pass, Hoosier Pass, Guanella Pass, Trail Ridge Road, the lower portion of Mount Evans Road for part of today, and could deliver a repeat performance on Tuesday, highway and road officials warned.
Snow and poor visibility were reported in patches from C-470 to the Eisenhower Tunnel today, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.Interstate 70 near the tunnel closed for a period late this afternoon after a semi-tractor trailer jack-knifed in the snow, according to CDOT.
Snowfall in Colorado in September is not unusual in the High Country. The metro region has not yet seen snow this season. The earliest snowfall on record in Denver was Sept. 3, 1961.
Autumn begins on Tuesday.
