Snowstorms that plagued highway travelers in the high country Sunday were expected to end overnight. Snow accumulations were expected to be between 4 to 10 inches by late Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
Those snow showers made for messy driving during the day as spinouts and accidents caused delays. Drivers experienced visibility of less than a quarter mile with northwest winds gusting to 50 miles per hour above timberline Sunday morning, said Weather Service spokesman Jim Kalina.
The Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the north-central mountains through Sunday evening, warning motorists to be prepared for winter driving conditions throughout the day.
The Colorado Department of Transportation closed Interstate 70 from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel in both directions at about 5 a.m. in order to pull vehicles from the road.
The stretch of road was back in service an hour later, then closed at about 11 a.m. before reopening after noon.
I-70 also was closed in both directions through Vail Pass for more than an hour due to weather and reopened shortly after 1 p.m.
“We have had tow trucks getting things cleaned up,” Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Tanya Bowen said.
Hoosier Pass near Frisco was also shut down briefly because of accidents and bad weather.
Three to 4 inches fell Sunday morning in Breckenridge and another 2 to 3 inches in Fairplay, Kalina said.
Snow showers were expected to decrease from midnight to 3 a.m., said Kyle Fredin, a meteorologist with the Weather Service in Boulder.
Thunderstorms in the Denver metro area were expected throughout the evening, Kalina said.
