A late spring storm caused tree branches to bend to the breaking point, covered roads with ice and slush, generated numerous traffic spin offs and crashes and piled up to 6 inches of snow in some areas of the Denver metro area.
As the storm swept through Colorado it triggered a large rock slide in Glenwood Canyon and many vehicle spin offs in East Vail. Interstate 70 is closed in both directions in Glenwood Canyon. Eastbound I-70 is closed in East Vail.
At sunrise, it was below freezing with a reading of 31 degrees in a spring that has been anything but typical. Summit County Schools, for example, has a two-hour delayed school opening Tuesday even though summer vacation is just around the corner.
Snow is expected to continue until after the morning commute Tuesday morning. Then a mix of snow and rain will fall between 10 a.m. and noon. Thereafter rain and thunder is expected, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.
A total of 6 inches of snow fell in Centennial while Aspen got a foot of snow, according to the NWS. New snow accumulation in Denver ranged from 1 to 2 inches.
Snow will change to rain on the plains, with accumulations & slushy roads south/southeast of Denver and in the mountains this morning.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
The warmest it will get in the Denver area will be 40 degrees. The low temperature Tuesday night will be around 32 degrees.
Afternoon rain and thunderstorms are expected Wednesday, when the high temperature will reach 53 degrees, the NWS says. The sun will peak out of the clouds.
Afternoon rain and thunderstorms are also in the forecast for Thursday, when the high will reach 54 degrees, forecasters say.
A big warm up starts Friday under sunny skies. The high temperature will be 70 degrees. Temperatures will reach the 70s on Saturday and Sunday.
It could rain Saturday night and Sunday, the NWS says.
Rain is possible on Monday, which is Memorial Day. The high temperature on the holiday will be about 68 degrees, the NWS says.
