A Pacific storm system that brought snow to the mountains on Wednesday brought brief, but needed rain to Denver late in the day.
Rain fell in downtown Denver about 4 p.m. and showers and periods of rain swept through parts of the Front Range into the night. In the mountains Wednesday, snow fell over widespread areas, including along the I-70 corridor.
The state traction law went into effect Wednesday afternoon along I-70 approaching the Eisenhower Tunnel, on I-70 between Vail and Copper Mountain and on several mountains passes, including Loveland, Fremont, Red Mountain and McClure, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Westbound lanes of the highway were shut down about 4:45 p.m. near Frisco by a traffic crash and poor visibility. The lanes reopened about 30 minutes later.
Plenty of snow along US50 over Monarch Pass at this hour. Be sure to leave early and have approved traction devices on hand if headed over the Continental Divide between Salida and Gunnison. For more information, check with by dialing 511 in Colorado.
— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo)
At lower elevations, rain changed to snow along the Palmer Divide about 6:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Roads in northern El Paso County were hit with a wet, slushy, snowy mix.
The rain has changed to wet snow over the Palmer Divide near Monument. Be prepared for wet, slushy and snow covered roads across northern El Paso County this evening. These images along I-25 over the Palmer Divide courtesy of about 6:15 PM.
— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo)
In Denver after a high temperature of 57 degrees at about 1:45 p.m., cloudy skies gave way to rain as temperatures dropped. At 9 p.m. Denver’s temperature was 29 degrees. Foggy, misty conditions settled in some areas of the Front Range along with bands of light snow. Little, if any, snow accumulation was expected along the I-25 corridor of Denver.
A moist, northwesterly flow over Colorado should continue to fuel snow showers in the mountain through Friday, according to the weather service. Additional mountain accumulations of less than 4 inches are expected.
Weather on the plains should dry out but remain on the cool side through Friday, the weather service said.
In Denver, skies should be sunny to mostly sunny Thursday and Friday, with the high temperature topping out at 44 on Thursday and 51 on Friday.
