A fall snowstorm is blanketing much of Colorado, dropping temperatures into the 20s and slowing traffic in urban areas along the Front Range.
National Weather Service forecasters predicted 1 to 3 inches of snow in the Denver area on Thursday, Oct. 10, and warned that freezing temperatures would persist along the Interstate 25 corridor and the Eastern Plains through Friday.
Highs reached the upper 70s in Denver on Wednesday afternoon before the storm moved in overnight. Denver police said about 100 crashes were reported during rush hour Thursday and told drivers via Twitter: “keep your wits about you.”
Heading into PM rush hour, we’ve received 193 traffic crash reports since 6AM. Let’s do better this evening, #Denver. Take your time out there, allow for extra stopping distance and just drive safely — we’d hate to have to delay your trip home…???? #CommuteResponsibly #snow pic.twitter.com/wbZMRgabDp
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) October 10, 2019
Snow fell in Colorado’s mountains through Thursday afternoon, a welcome sight for skiers and snowboarders waiting for resorts to open for the season.
As the snow moves out on Thursday afternoon, bitter cold and wind will move back in as skies clear overnight into Friday. Denver’s forecast low is in the teens and could break the record low for Friday of 22 degrees, set in 1946.
But the chilly weather won’t stick around too long. Highs this weekend in Denver will be back into the 60s. Going to the Broncos game Sunday? Expect mostly sunny and mild weather at kickoff.
Fall Snowstorm Blasts Rockies
One day before, a fall snowstorm snarled traffic and caused power outages in the Rocky Mountains.
Winter storm watches and warnings stretched from eastern Washington state to Minnesota, along with freeze warnings as far south as Colorado and Nebraska on Wednesday.
In Spokane, wet, heavy snow snapped tree branches and took out power lines. Avista Utilities was restoring power to 32,000 customers Wednesday.
Driving conditions were deteriorating across Montana and northern Wyoming as ice and blowing snow covered roadways.
The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
