DENVER -- Get ready for some snow-melting sunshine Monday, after a cold, snowy weekend.

It was a snowy Sunday all over eastern Colorado, with a snow advisory in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday for most of eastern Colorado, including the foothills, Denver metro area, and the Palmer Divide.

That was an improvement over earlier forecasts that kept the advisory in place until 11 p.m. Sunday.

Even so, some schools were canceled Monday or had delayed starts.

Portions of the northeast plains were under a blizzard warning until 11 p.m. Sunday, though conditions improved by the afternoon in north/northeast Colorado. Winds sustained between 30 and 45 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph hammering communities like Byers, Deer Trail, Limon, Akron, and Last Chance. Considerable blowing and drifting caused whiteout conditions and drifts between 3 and 6 feet deep.

At 9:30 a.m., spotters reported that winds were sustained at 46 mph and gusting to 62 mph at Cedar Point, which is just west of Limon along Interstate 70.

The blizzard warning was downgraded at 3 p.m. to a snow and blowing snow advisory that was in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday.

The Colorado Department of Transportation said conditions in southeast Colorado continued to deteriorate Sunday afternoon and most roads remained icy and snow packed.

Anticipated Snow Accumulations

Snow totals from this storm varied widely around eastern Colorado and within the Denver metro area.

Foothills (including Evergreen, Conifer, Bailey, Central City, Blackhawk and Pine) -- 4 to 8 inches with isolated amounts up to 12 inches

Denver Metro Area -- 3 to 6 inches will be common through the heart of the metro area, but higher amounts are likely on the west and south sides of town. Places such as Highlands Ranch, Parker, southeast Aurora and Lakewood will see 6 to 12 inches.

Northeast Plains (including Akron, Limon, Byers, Bennett, Strasburg, Deer Trail) -- areas between Interstates 76 and 70 stand to take the brunt from this storm with 5 to 10 inches of snow and drifts 3 to 6 feet deep, elsewhere expect 4 to 8 inches

Southeast Plains (including Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Lamar and La Junta) -- in general 2 to 6 inches of snow can be expected

Mountain Areas -- in general, most of Colorado's high country is expected 6 to 12 inches of snow, heaviest near Telluride, Vail, Aspen and Steamboat Springs

Wind Causing Tough Travel, Some Road Closures

Transportation officials closed Interstate 70 in both directions from Airpark Road near Denver International Airport east to Burlington near the Kansas state line Sunday evening due to high winds, blowing snow, poor visibility and ice.

Aurora officials said 33 weather-related traffic accidents were reported from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Blizzard conditions hampered travel for a time on Sunday around eastern Colorado. Chains were required along Interstate 25 south of Denver between Lincoln Avenue and Monument Hill.

The Colorado Department of Transportation discouraged all motorists from traveling on the eastern plains Sunday as wind gusts are reaching 30 to 40 mph. Visibility was reduced to a half a mile or less in some areas.

Highway 86 between Kiowa and Franktown was closed Sunday due to whiteout conditions. Interstate 25 was closed for about two hours in the southbound direction at Harmony Road in Fort Collins due to numerous accidents. It has since been reopened and no injuries were reported from the accidents.

U.S. 160 between Springfield and Trinidad was closed Sunday afternoon due to blowing snow.

The Cherry Creek Dam Road remained closed at 1 p.m. Sunday due to blizzard conditions.

Snow falling in the high country was prompting a chain law on the eastbound approach to the Eisenhower Tunnel for all commercial traffic, as well as along Interstate 70 west of Denver over Floyd Hill and at Mount Vernon Canyon.

Chains were also required on U.S. 287 in Turkey Creek Canyon (milepost 235 to 250) and U.S. 550 at Red Mountain Pass.

CDOT said it has 75 trucks working to plow snow in the Denver metro area and 90 trucks in the eastern plains and the high county to Vail pass. Some 60 trucks are in Boulder, Greeley, Fort Collins, Brush and Sterling, while some 50 trucks are removing snow in the Colorado Springs and Pueblo area.

For the latest road conditions from the Colorado Department of Transportation, click here. CDOT also offers two hotlines for the latest road conditions, ideal for programming in your cell phone before leaving home. In metro Denver call (303) 639-1111 and elsewhere in Colorado call 1-877-315-7623.

As of 3 p.m. Sunday, Denver International Airport was reporting some minor delays due to wind and snow. Travelers were advised to call ahead to their airline before heading to the airport. Click here for travel weather resources, including links to airline Web sites and phone numbers.

Area Snow Totals

Please click here for the latest snow totals.

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