Heavy snow and high winds snarled Colorado’s mountain highways on Saturday, causing intermittent closures of Interstate 70 and other highways as a winter storm dumped more than a foot of fresh snow.
National Weather Service forecasters issued a ’s northern and central mountains until 11 p.m. Saturday and “strongly recommended” that people change their travel plans.
“Snow and blowing snow will reduce visibility to a quarter mile or less. Near blizzard conditions are possible, especially Saturday morning. Travel will be very difficult to impossible, with road closures possible,” forecasters wrote in the alert.
Traffic cameras show snow-packed roads throughout the mountains as of Saturday afternoon.
as of 6:15 p.m. Saturday:
- U.S. 6 over Loveland Pass, from I-70 to mile 222, east of Keystone Ski Resort
Snow and blowing snow continued to make travel difficult Saturday afternoon, and roads will likely remain slick and snowy through Saturday night, National Weather Service forecasters said.
Travel on I-70 through the mountains has become very difficult due to snow and blowing snow. Conditions will slowly improve later this afternoon, but snow covered and slippery roads will likely linger through the rest of this afternoon and evening.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
:
- Interstate 70: 1-4 inches in Idaho Springs, 5-10 inches in Georgetown, 8-15 inches at Eisenhower Tunnel, 5-10 inches in Silverthorne, 9-15 inches on Vail Pass.
- U.S. 40: 8-13 inches in Steamboat Springs, 20-30 inches on Rabbit Ears Pass, 3-6 inches in Kremmling, 4-8 inches in Granby, 8-14 inches in Winter Park and on Berthoud Pass, 4-9 inches in Empire.
- U.S. 34: 5-10 inches in Grand Lake, 9-17 inches at Alpine Visitors Center in Rocky Mountain National Park (which is closed to through traffic for the season,) 1-4 inches in Estes Park.
- Colorado 14: 3-7 inches in Walden, 4-12 inches in Gould, 9-18 inches on Cameron Pass, 2-4 inches in Rustic.
officials also issued a travel alert Friday night, stating drivers should be prepared for icy, snow-packed conditions and road closures.
Happening Now 12/6 at 10:30am: Single vehicle (semi truck) crash I-70 West mm 228. Westbound is closed; traffic is being detoured off Exit 228 and right back on I-70 West to bypass the crash. At this time, the contents of the trailer are planned to be transferred to another…
— Clear Creek Sheriff's Office (@ClearCreekCoSO)
Anyone who must travel should bring emergency supplies, including an extra flashlight, food and water, NWS officials said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
