Snow hits metro Denver, with severe road conditions

A storm hitting metro Denver Monday morning will bring snow and wind, creating difficult driving conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

Up to 4 inches of snow will fall south of Interstate 70 and wind could gust at speeds up to 55 miles per hour, weather service forecasters said, advising residents to “avoid or delay travel until this afternoon if possible.” Road conditions are expected to be especially difficult this morning across the southern metro area in the Palmer Divide area between Denver and Colorado Springs and in southern Front Range foothills as strong winds churn snow. Most of the snow is expected to fall before noon.

This burst of blustery weather is likely to bring up to 7 inches of snow along Interstate 25 near Castle Rock, and blizzard conditions including whiteouts are possible as wind blows snow on Colorado’s eastern plains, forecasters said.

The weather service issued a winter weather advisory for metro Denver, a winter storm warning for Castle Rock and plains to the east, a blizzard warning for southeastern Colorado, and a high wind warning for the I-25 corridor between Colorado Springs and Pueblo and southeastern plains.

The high temperature in metro Denver Monday will be 30 degrees, decreasing to 15 degrees Monday night, forecasters said.

More snow, much needed, is expected to fall in the southwestern mountains. In northern metro Denver north of I-70, forecasters anticipated less snow.