The first big snow in Colorado caused problems for drivers in the mountains Saturday morning, but is also paving the way for ski resorts to finally open.
Loveland Ski Area opens at 9 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 snowfall — 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 time Denver had no snowfall in 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 delay.
Benton said 13 inches was reported at Cameron Pass, and another 10 inches fell on 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.
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 Weather Service in Boulder.
Yesenia Robles and Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post
