The first big snow in Colorado caused problems for drivers in the mountains on Saturday morning, but is also paving the way for ski resorts to finally open.
Loveland Ski Area is opening at 9 a.m. this morning, making it the second year in a row it opens before other resorts.
Arapahoe Basin will follow with its opening at 9 a.m. Monday. A-Basin will have a new high speed quad chairlift, “Black Mountain Express,” to take skiers and riders from the base area to mid-mountain.
The snow fall — and the ski resort openings, are later in the season than previous years because of warm weather.
“It’s a little bit later than average,” said Frank Benton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “You could usually get snow in the mountains anytime starting in September.”
Snowfall has been delayed in Denver as well.
Last year Denver recorded 17 inches of snow for the month of October, but with a week left in the month this time, Denver has had no snowfall.
The average snowfall for October is 4.1 inches. The last year that Denver had no snowfall in the month of October was in 2003, according to National Weather Service data.
But the high snowfall amounts in the mountains may have made up for some of the the delay.
Benton said 13 inches were reported in Cameron Pass, and another 10 inches fell in Rabbit Ears Pass. Several more inches fell over the western slope through the day on Saturday.
The weather closed all lanes of Eastbound Interstate 70 early Saturday morning after multiple accidents on Vail Pass.
Mike Murray, Colorado Transportation Department spokesmansaid a couple of semi-tractor trailers were involved in the accidents.
Chain laws were in effect all morning on Loveland and Vail passes, Murray said.
The traffic backups weren’t as severe as they could be because it’s early for ski season traffic conditions, he said.
Another winter storm is expected tonight that could drop as much as a foot of snow in the mountains by Monday, said Jim Kalina another meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.
Winds in the mountains are expected to be between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, he said.
Sunday night in the metro area, temperatures will be in the low 40s and the city may also see high winds with gusts that could reach 21 mph.
There is a 20 percent chance of rain in the Denver metro area tomorrow and the high should be around 56 degrees.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
