Denver Public Schools will operate on a normal schedule Monday, even though the area is expected to receive up to 14 inches of snow over the next two days.
Any changes to that will be posted by 5 a.m. on the school district’s website as well as on social media.
Heavy snowfall is expected to begin late Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
“The next storm system is still brewing. We should start to see snow this evening, continuing through the day tomorrow,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Entrekin.
The metro area should see between 8 to 14 inches, and as much as 18 inches are expected in the foothills, with up to 20 inches in the high country, Entrekin said.
Snow could continue into Tuesday.
Schools in other areas of Colorado will alter their schedules.
Lewis Palmer District 38, Academy District 20, Ellicott District 22, Manitou Springs District 14, Cheyenne Mountain District 12, Harrison District two, Woodfield District Three, Woodland Park, Aspen School District, Fountain-Fort Carson District Eight and Johnson and Wales University have announced they’ll be closed Monday.
Elizabeth C-1 School District and Legacy Academy have issued a one-hour delay. Platte County School D-1 has been delayed by an hour and a half.
The city of Centennial is operating on a two-hour delay.
Colorado Department of Transportation maintenance crews began snow-shifts (alternating 12-hour shifts) starting Sunday.
“The storm that’s coming in tonight is expected to bring a lot of wind so reduced visibility is expected to create safety concerns,” said CDOT’s Director of Maintenance Operations Kyle Lester in a news release. “That means if you’re driving tomorrow, give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destination, be prepared for adverse conditions and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. And, give our plows plenty of room to get the road cleared of snow and ice.”
The Interstate 70 Mountain Express Lane, which runs from Empire through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels in Idaho Springs, will remain closed to traffic during snow storms and when plows are active.
Crews will remain on snow-shift until the storm is over and highways return to normal driving conditions.
Temperatures for Monday in the metro area are expected to be in the upper 20s, dropping to the teens on Monday night.
“It’s not a terribly cold system,” Entrekin said.
Winds are expected to be brisk on the plains on Monday afternoon, with a steady 15 to 25 miles per hour, gusting as high as 45 miles per hour.
The foothills could see wind gusts of 20 to 25 miles-per-hour.
Colorado Springs officials are warning residents to prepare for a major winter storm that could make travel difficult for several days.
In a news release, city officials urge residents to have adequate supplies including food and medications to last for at least three days.
The heaviest snowfall in the Colorado Springs area is expected in the northern part of the city.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671, tmcghee@denverpost.com or @dpmcghee
By the numbers
Colorado Department of Transportation has the following number of plows available:
• Denver metro: 90
• Northeast Colorado: 175
• Southeast Colorado: 160
• Southwest Colorado: 50
• San Luis Valley/Lower Arkansas Valley: 50
• West central Colorado: 78
• Northwest Colorado: 36
