Colorado transportation officials are warning high country motorists that a storm set to begin pounding the mountains Sunday night and extend through Christmas Day is likely to be as intense as the one that snarled Interstate 70 traffic on Saturday.
“We saw multiple spinouts and crashes during yesterday’s storm due to, in large part, motorists driving too fast for the conditions or not having the right tires or chains,” Kyle Lester, Colorado Department of Transportation’s director of highway maintenance, said in a written statement Sunday night. “We strongly urge motorists to take it slow when traveling to your destination. Keep a safe distance between you and the person in front of you. Please take a look at road conditions before you head up into the high country, and use your best judgment.”
Six to 12 inches of snow is expected to fall in the mountains before the storm moves on late Monday.
CDOT says motorists should expect blowing snow as well as slippery road conditions. Areas of poor visibility also are expected, and officials say Vail Pass in particular will have dangerous driving conditions at times.
Snow and blowing snow conditions are expected tonight starting at 11 p.m. through tomorrow evening. In the hopes of keeping I-70 open, we asks motorists to please not drive on I-70 if you do not have tire tread that measures at least 1/8", a four-wheel or all wheel drive vehicle,
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT)
been out and will be out through the rest of the storm system plowing and deicing. Mountain weather and driving is not for beginners, so be prepared! Check out these winter driving tips: make this a great day in the snow!
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT)
A winter weather advisory or winter storm warning for the mountains of Summit County, the Aspen area, the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels, Winter Park and the Vail area, among others.
“Deep moisture and a strong jet stream will bring snow, heavy at times, and strong winds to the mountains of north-central Colorado late tonight through Monday evening,” the National Weather Service in Boulder said Sunday. “The strong winds are already occurring on the mountain peaks and ridges, but it is late this evening when snowfall will develop and then become widespread after midnight.”
CDOT says there could be avalanche mitigation on Loveland Pass and Berthoud Pass on Monday and Tuesday mornings, which would cause travel delays.
Saturday’s storm left scores of motorists stranded on I-70 as CDOT and the State Patrol closed the road because of crashes and weather conditions so severe that visibility was limited to 5 feet in some areas.
In Denver, forecasters are calling for sunny skies with temperatures topping out about 33 degrees on Christmas Day.
High country snowfall has allowed ski resorts across the state to more terrain following weeks of disappointing weather.
Motorists can check road conditions as , or stay up to date by following , and on Twitter.
