Goodbye, summer. Hello, cold rain and snow.
The season’s first widespread snowfall hit the mountains and high valleys Monday with accumulations of an inch or more at elevations above 7,500 feet, and with heavy, wet snow falling as close to Denver as Evergreen, according to the National Weather Service.
At least 3 inches of snow fell in parts of the foothills west of Denver.
Snowfall in the mountains was heavier than forecasters had expected, leaving travelers and road crews to scramble with early winter weather on the last day of summer.
Rain, light snow and cold are 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 was in effect from midnight to early this morning for the Western Slope and the San Luis Valley.
Drivers and travelers in the high country encountered slushy roads, especially over mountain passes.
Chain restrictions and closures impeded travel on Loveland Pass, Hoosier Pass, Guanella Pass, Trail Ridge Road, and the lower portion of Mount Evans Road for part of Monday, and there could be a repeat performance today, highway officials warned.
Snow and poor visibility were reported in patches from C-470 to the Eisenhower Tunnel Monday, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Interstate 70 near the tunnel closed for a period late Monday afternoon after a semi-tractor-trailer jackknifed 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.
Ski areas at Breckenridge and Copper Mountain excitedly heralded the first flakes of the season. The cold weather and snow prompted Loveland Ski Area to turn on its snowmaking machines earlier than planned.
Today is the first day of fall.
Denver will see a continuing chance of showers today. The high temperature in the city should be about 53 degrees, the Weather Service said.
Gardeners, beware: Overnight temperatures in Denver will slip into the upper 30s again tonight or Wednesday morning, the Weather Service warned.
Colorado’s weather is expected to start warming up late in the week, and forecasters said Denver should be back in the 70s by Friday or Saturday.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
