Blowing snow forced authorities to close portions of Interstate 25 tonight south of the Colorado border north to Cheyenne as the expected cold front roared into the area.
The snow, combined with wind, falling temperatures and low visibility, led to multiple traffic accidents and rollovers near the Colorado-Wyoming border, the State Patrol reported.
Snow or weather-related accidents also closed eastbound Interstate 76 east of Sterling and U.S. 85 both directions north of Ault.
By 9 p.m., snow also has been reported in Boulder, said meteorologist Jim Kalina with the National Weather Service.
The temperature in the metro area, which had been in the 50s on a sunny day, had fallen into the 20s by 9 p.m., with Denver International Airport reporting 24 degrees.
The metro area is expected to receive anywhere from half an inch to 2 inches of snow overnight, depending on the location, Kalina said.
The frigid weather is on a collision course with the Colorado Rockies for Saturday’s playoff game at Coors Field.
For the Rockies game Saturday night, scheduled to start at 7:37 p.m., temperatures will likely drop below freezing and the overnight low could plummet to 19 degrees, the Weather Service said.
On Sunday there will be a slight chance of snow in Denver before noon, followed by a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Skies over Denver will be mostly cloudy, and the high temperature should be about 47 degrees.
On Columbus Day, Monday, Denver should see mostly sunny skies with a high temperature of 52 degrees.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
