DENVER (KDVR) — Saturday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day as dense fog and snow move across the state, impacting travelers.
Snowfall is expected Saturday into Sunday, prompting Winter Weather Advisories in the mountains through Sunday.
The snowfall in the forecast is expected to bring even more traffic through the Interstate 70 mountain corridor during a weekend that is already historically busy due to holiday traffic. Because of this, the Colorado Department of Transportation said the increased traffic this weekend could be record-breaking.
With the freezing temperatures and dense fog, as well as snow on the way, roads could be dicey. Travelers should expect delays due to the winter driving conditions as well as increased holiday traffic.
Around 2:40 p.m., CDOT said there was heavy traffic on I-70 between Silverthorne and Golden, and said traveling from Silverthorne to C-470 would take about two and a half hours. Around 3 p.m., traffic could be seen backed up near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel on I-70.
According to COtrip, CDOT’s online tool, winter driving conditions and icy spots are impacting drivers on several major roadways across the Front Range, in the high country and the Eastern Plains. Some of those roads include:
- Interstate 25
- Interstate 70 in the mountains and plains
- Interstate 76
- US Highway 36
- US Highway 34
- US Highway 24
- US Highway 6
- US Highway 40
- Colorado Highway 14
- Colorado Highway 125
- Colorado Highway 9
- Colorado Highway 91
Drivers can use CDOT’s COtrip website or the COtrip Planner app to check live road conditions and closures.
Tamara Rollison, a spokesperson for CDOT, told FOX31 that drivers need to be ready for harsh winter weather conditions, especially if traveling in the mountains.
Rollison said drivers should make sure the tires on their vehicles have a good tread depth before driving in the snow. She also advises drivers to be prepared with a survival kit, which may include food, water, batteries, clothing, ice scraper, flashlight, jumper cables, blankets and anything else that could help in an emergency.
Several inches of snow is expected to fall in several mountain areas, with the highest snow totals in these areas:
- Steamboat Springs: 7 inches
- Vail: 5 inches
- Aspen: 5 inches
- Limon: 5 inches
- Craig: 5 inches
- Telluride: 5 inches
Before hitting the road, be sure to check the forecast beforehand and prepare accordingly.
Denver, Colorado weather resources
Stay prepared for storms and forecast changes, a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day and other important weather information:
- Interactive Denver weather radar
- Colorado weather alerts
- Business, church and school closings
- Weather newsletters
- FOX31 News app
The Pinpoint Weather team will continue to update the forecast multiple times each day.
