Cloudy, cold skies brought rain and snow to the Front Range Wednesday afternoon, with a promise for a troubling commute Thursday morning.
A winter weather advisory, including Denver and Boulder, was posted by the National Weather Service at 6 p.m. Wednesday though 8 a.m. Thursday. The weather service forecast calls for 2 to 4 inches of snow for the advisory area.
Elsewhere, heavy snow is expected Wednesday night along the southern foothills and Palmer Divide, the weather service said. Up to 12 inches of snow is forecast for the foothills southwest of Denver.
“Hazardous road conditions are expected to develop, possibly as early” as Thursday morning’s rush hour for Interstate 25 south of Denver and Interstate 70 west of Golden, the weather service said.
Highway construction, including the I-25 South Gap project north of Colorado Springs, will be among the hard-hit areas, according to a Douglas County news release. Drivers are asked to avoid the area, if possible, Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
The Regional Transportation District on Wednesday urged public transportation commuters to plan for extra time Thursday and check bus and rail schedules.
Plan extra time for your morning commute tomorrow and check your bus or light rail in real-time at
Icy roads & traffic congestion mean increased travel times. 👇🏼— RTD (@RideRTD)
In Denver, light snow was falling in foggy skies at early Wednesday evening. Heavier snow was falling west and south of Denver.
As of 8:30 p.m. the Colorado State Patrol said that of Interstate 70 were closed between Idaho Springs and Morrison. Multiple crashes were reported along additional sections of I-70 as the night progressed and authorities advised truckers to stay on the Western Slope for the night.
At Denver International Airport, 500 workers and 200 pieces of equipment were readied Wednesday in anticipation of the overnight wintry weather. Airport officials urged travelers to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport Thursday morning.
👀 We spy 🌨️ ❄️ in the forecast. DEN has over 200 pieces of snow equipment and 500 trained snow removal personnel to help keep runways and roadways safe and operational when flakes fly! Flying tonight or tomorrow? Check with your airline in advance to confirm your flight status!
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport)
In the mountains, a crash about 6 p.m. Wednesday closed the westbound lanes of I-70 at the Eisenhower Tunnel, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. There was no estimated time or reopening. Passenger vehicles on I-70 in the mountains are required to be four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, have snow tires or use chain or alternative traction devices.
Conditions in the foothills continue to worse, especially in the foothills of Jefferson county. For the Denver area, wet roads are expected to become snowy and slushy by mid evening as snow increases and temperatures fall.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
470/Alameda heavy snow roads getting covered. Slow down, be patient and move over for emergency vehicles. Letap all get home safe tonight. S75
— CSP Golden (@csp_golden)
In Denver, snow should start to thin out after 7 a.m., giving way to mostly cloudy skies, according to the weather service. Snow accumulation in the city could be up to 4 inches Thursday morning, with winds gusting to 22 mph and temperatures dropping into the 20s. Morning commuters should brace for slippery and potentially dangerous road conditions, the weather service said.
Skies are expected to be sunny Thursday afternoon as the high temperature climbs to about 40 degrees.
