The Colorado Department of Transportation placed crews on snow shifts Sunday in advance of the snowstorm bearing down on the state.
The National Weather Service has posted a winter storm warning for all but the extreme southeast corner and a small part of the northwest corner of the state.The warning area includes Denver, Fort Collins, Fort Morgan, Grand Junction, Durango, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
The Weather Service says the storm was expected to begin in earnest Sunday evening and continue into Tuesday.
Up to a foot of snow is possible in many areas, with more expected in the mountains. Some mountain areas in western Colorado have already received a foot or more of snow.
CDOT will run on 12-hour shifts until driving conditions return to normal. About 90 plows will hit highways in the Denver area and 175 in northeastern Colorado.
The Interstate 70 Mountain Express Lane, which runs from Empire through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels in Idaho Springs, will remain closed to traffic during snow storms and when plows are active.
Denver said the city is prepared to implement its residential snow plow program. Plows will make a single pass over neighborhood streets, and repeat that if necessary.
Drivers are advised to be aware of traction laws and road closures.
