DENVER — Roads are icy and snow-packed across much of the Front Range this morning, creating hazardous driving and forcing the closure of several schools. Temperatures are near zero this morning.
READ MORE: In-depth look at the forecast | Today's forecast | Traffic radar | Interactive weather radars | School closings and delays | Snow totals
We're keeping an eye on the roads and weather as this storm moves into Colorado. Read the live updates below.
Thursday, Jan. 6
9:18 p.m. | TRAFFIC| Westbound I-70 is closed at Georgetown due to multiple crashes near Bakerville at mile point 221.
6:03 p.m. | SCHOOL CLOSURES | All DPS schools, including Emily Griffith Technical College and all administrative offices, will be open for normal operations on Friday.
All Adams 14 schools will resume in-person instruction on Friday as well. All faculty and staff should report to work as normally scheduled.
5:54 p.m. | TRAFFIC | Some roads have reopened and others have closed due to the weather.
- Eastbound I-70 has reopened between Exit 123 (Shoshone) and Exit 125 (Hanging Lake).
- Both directions of U.S. 287 have closed due to safety concerns between Colorado Highway 14 and the Wyoming border.
- Highway 40 near Rabbit Ears Pass has reopened between Kemry Lane and Spruce Street (Kremmling) from mile point 139 to mile point 184.
1:22 p.m. | TRAFFIC | Highway 285 is now closed from Trout Creek Pass to the east side of Kenosha Pass.
12:27 p.m. | TRAFFIC | Highway 285 is closed from Trout Creek Pass to Fairplay due to winter weather conditions. Use Highway 24 to Highway 9 into Fairplay as a detour. The road will reopen when conditions improve, CSP says.
11:42 a.m. | TRAFFIC | Eastbound I-76 has reopened between Colorado Highway 71 and the Nebraska border.
Additionally, Berthoud Pass is back open in both directions, according to CDOT, though drivers should plan for occasional short-term closures. The road remains icy and snow-packed.
11:06 a.m. | TRAFFIC | Westbound I-70 has reopened between the Loveland Pass exit and Silverthorne, according to CDOT.
10:50 a.m. | TRAFFIC | Westbound I-70 was closed as of 10:30 a.m. between the Loveland Pass exit and Silverthorne because of a crash west of the tunnels.
Eastbound I-70 is closed between the CO Highway 9 exit and the Loveland Pass exit, according to CDT, due to spun out vehicles.
9 a.m. | SNOW TOTALS | We have updated our story with the latest snow totals. The area that saw the most reported snow was around Steamboat Springs. See the full list here.
8:22 a.m. | TRAFFIC | Both directions of I-70 between exit 218 at Herman Gulch and exit 203 in Silverthorne have reopened.
8:10 a.m. | FLIGHTS | As of now, there are 62 delays and 177 cancellations at the Denver International Airport. Of the cancellations, 76 were Southwest, 51 were United, 42 were SkyWest, 7 were CommutAir and 1 was Delta.
7:07 a.m. | HEALTH | An air quality health advisory for fine particles has been issued for locations below 6,000 feet in the Grand Valley of Mesa County. The cold and stagnant weather has allowed for fine particle concentrations to climb into the unhealthy category, according to the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division. This will likely remain in place through Friday morning. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children in this area should avoid prolonged or heavy indoor and outdoor exertion.
6:51 a.m. | TRAFFIC | Colorado Highway 14 (Poudre Canyon Road) is closed between Sleeping Elephant (9 miles east of Cameron Pass) and County Road 36 (near Walden) from milepoint 78 to milepoint 35 due to safety concerns.
6:49 a.m. | TRAFFIC | Both directions of I-70 are closed between exit 218 at Herman Gulch and exit 203 in Silverthorne.
6 a.m. | FORECAST | Multiple warnings and advisories cover Colorado right now.
Winter Storm Warnings cover most of the mountains west of Denver and north of I-70. Accumulations through Thursday morning will total 1 to 2 feet, along with very cold temperatures.
Snow totals were heaviest north of Denver, with 3 to 6 inches or more from Greeley to Akron. In Denver, 1 to 3 inches of snow fell and we'll see a few lingering light snow showers this morning. Expect around 3 to 6 inches in the foothills.
Click here for the full story.
5:30 a.m. | TRAFFIC | The National Weather Service released a list of major road closures due to weather and crashes this morning:
- US 6 east and westbound between Montezuma Road and I-70 (Loveland Pass)
- CO 125 north and southbound from Walden to Granby
- CO 14 east and westbound from Walden to US 40
- CO-14 east and westbound from Walden to MP 78 (Poudre Canyon)
- US 40 (Rabbit Ears Pass) west and eastbound to/from Steamboat Springs to Kremmling
- I-76 eastbound is closed from Brush to Nebraska
- I-76 westbound is closed from Nebraska to Sterling
- US 138 is closed in both directions from Sterling to Nebraska.
- US 287 is closed northbound from Ted's Place to Wyoming (north of Fort Collins)
- US 40 Berthoud Pass Closed MP 235-249
5:15 a.m. | TRAFFIC | Colorado State Patrol say a suspect driver crashed into a firetruck and ambulance at the scene of a separate crash in Adams County Thursday morning, and the driver and passenger fled from the scene, leaving an injured passenger behind. This happened at Interstate 76 and E. 74th Avenue. Click here for the full story.
5 a.m. | SCHOOL CLOSINGS | We're seeing more and more delays and closures across the state. Click here for the full list.
4:39 a.m. | TRAFFIC | Berthoud Pass is closed from Henderson Mine Road to Mary Jane Ski Area in both directions.
3:38 am. | TRAFFIC | I-76 remains closed between Brush and the Nebraska line.
Wednesday, Jan. 5
11:56 p.m. | SCHOOL CLOSINGS | All DPS schools, administrative offices and Emily Griffith Technical College will be closed on Thursday due to expected absences, continued staffing shortages and the combination of snowy conditions and extreme cold.
Families whose students attend charter schools should check with their school.
All school-related events and activities, including athletics, are canceled. Operational staff is asked to check with their supervisors for their schedule.
11:55 p.m. | FORECAST | Snow is starting to pile up, with more than 2 feet recorded in some parts of the mountains. Expect frigid temperatures by Thursday morning.
11:37 p.m. | TRAFFIC | It may have come a bit later than usual, but those winter driving conditions have arrived. Road conditions on I-25 were slippery Wednesday evening as frigid temperatures mixed with the incoming snow. Drivers in Fort Collins said it was slow moving.
“If anyone's out there making a journey south and north, definitely take precautions,” said Ryan Lautzenhiser, a driver. “This is something that you expect every winter season when you're out here.”
Traffic was steady but slow through Denver Wednesday evening, but several accident alerts were issued for Aurora, Arvada, Boulder, Fort Collins and Westminster.
10:19 p.m. | TRAFFIC | Highway 34 northbound is closed from County Road 61 due to road conditions and visibility. There's no estimated time of reopening.
10:14 p.m. | TRAFFIC | There's a short-term closure on Berthoud Pass at Highway 40, mile point 246.5, east of Berthoud Pass Summit, due to a jackknifed semi-truck, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office.
9:21 p.m. | SCHOOL DELAYS | Westminster Public Schools will be on a two-hour delayed start Thursday.
9:17. p.m. | SCHOOL DELAYS | All schools in the Adams 12 Five Star District, including Five Star Online, will operate on a two-hour delayed start on Thursday due to expected adverse weather conditions in the morning.
School will end at its normal time, and afternoon bus drop-off times and afternoon BASE will not be adjusted.
9:13 p.m. | SCHOOL DELAYS | Brighton 27J Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed start Thursday due to weather and possible poor road conditions.
9:11 p.m. | SCHOOL DELAYS | All Jeffco Public Schools buildings and facilities will be on a two-hour delay schedule Thursday due to flash-freeze conditions impacting area roads and the sub-zero temperatures due to windchill.
There will be limited staff at schools to supervise any early-arriving students. Childcare programs that normally run before school will also have a 2-hour delayed start. After-school activities including athletics, events, and childcare programs will run as scheduled unless otherwise informed by the school or organization planning the event.
If parents or guardians decide to keep kids home for safety, the schools will be flexible with late arrivals and will always excuse a student absence when called in by a parent or guardian.
8:57 p.m. | TRAFFIC | Approximately 200 motorists are currently stranded in Kremmling, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office.
8:55 p.m. | TRAFFIC | Westbound Interstate 70 is closed due to safety concerns at Exit 190 (Vail Pass Summit).
8:54 p.m. | CLOSURES | The outdoor vaccination clinic scheduled for Thursday at the Thornton Fire Department has been canceled because of weather conditions.
8:51 p.m. | DELAYS | Lone Tree city offices and the Lone Tree Arts Center will delay opening until 10 a.m. Thursday. City staff will be working remotely during the delay, including answering calls to the city's main phone line during regular business hours.
8:43 p.m. | TRAFFIC | Due to the number of motorists stranded in Kremmling from the road closures, Kremmling Police Department with the West Grand School District is opening West Grand Elementary/Middle School so motorists can warm, stretch and use restroom facilities.
8:19 p.m. | SCHOOL DELAYS | The Douglas County School District will be on a 90-minute delay on Thursday due to forecasted cold temperatures. BASE (before school) programs will open at 8:00 a.m. Morning preschool classes and morning half-day kindergarten classes are canceled. eDCSD is on a Virtual Class Day and classes will take place at the normal times. Parents with children at charter schools should check with the schools on their status Thursday morning.
If a parent decides to keep their child home for the day, it will be an excused absence.
8:16. p.m. | TRAFFIC | Highway 40 west of Kremmling and County Road 1 (Trough Road) and Highway 125 in both directions between Granby and Walden will remain closed throughout the night due to snow, wind and poor visibility, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office.
7:41 p.m. | TRAFFIC | U.S. 34 is closed at the Grand Lake Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park as well as the Fall River Entrance, and U.S. 36 is closed at Beaver Meadows Entrance due to adverse road conditions.
5:50 p.m. | TRAFFIC | The cities of Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City and Westminster are on accident alert. If involved in a crash that does not cause injury or property damage, exchange information and file a report as soon as possible.
5:42 p.m. | SCHOOL CLOSINGS |Out of an abundance of caution, all schools in Adams County School District 14 will be closed Thursday due to weather conditions and associated attendance challenges affected by the pandemic, the district said.
4:42 p.m. | TRAFFIC |The city of Boulder is on accident alert. If involved in a crash that does not cause injury or property damage, exchange information and file a report as soon as possible.
4:29 p.m. | CLOSURES | Weather conditions are forcing some COVID testing sites in the area to close early or shut down for the day Thursday. The Boulder County Fairgrounds and Stazio Ball Fields testing sites will close Wednesday at 5 p.m. and will be open from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday. All Summit County testing sites will be closed Thursday.
3:22 p.m. | TRAFFIC |Multiple crashes are slowing travel in the state as a winter storm takes hold. CDOT is reporting a crash on SB I-25 near Exit 172 (Upper Lake Gulch Road). And a crash on EB I-70 near Frisco is snarling traffic in the mountains.
3:11 p.m. | TRAFFIC |I-25 northbound near the Johnstown exit is closed due to a vehicle crash. There is no estimated time on when it will reopen.
3:02 p.m. | TRAFFIC |Multiple highway closures in the mountains:
- Highway 125 between Walden and Wolf Creek Pass
- Highway 14 between Eagle Drive and US 40
- Highway 131 Between US 6 and US 40 (near Steamboat Springs)
- Highway 9 between I-70; US 6 (Silverthorne) and US 40 (Kremmling)
- US 287 northbound from County Road 54E (4 miles north of the Fort Collins area) at Mile Point 355