DENVER — A winter storm blasting through the region is causing treacherous road conditions in the Denver area and in the high country.
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Early Monday afternoon, the Colorado Department of Transportation reportedheavy traffic increasing on eastbound Interstate 70 from Silverthorne to Denver as authorities respond to numerous crashes along the corridor.
Road conditions could also be contributing to string of crashes in the Denver metro area, snarling rush-hour traffic and prompting multiple agencies to declare an accident alert.
Drivers heading to the mountains will need to be prepared for long delays and have good tires. CDOT has implemented traction and chain laws for several highways in the state, including parts of I-70.
Passenger vehicles traveling on I-70 between Vail and Copper Mountain and between Idaho Springs and Denver will be required to have snow or mud/snow tires or be a 4WD/AWD vehicle.
Trucks, including buses and vans, will be required chain up between Idaho Springs and Morrison. Chain laws are also in effect for other parts of the state.
A winter storm warning is in effect for the central and northern mountains. Up to a foot of snow could fall in the high country before clearing skies return Wednesday.
The metro-area and plains could see around 1-4 inches of snow by early Tuesday, with up to 6 inches possible north of Denver, up to the Wyoming border. Roads may be snow packed and icy in spots.
The storm could help snowpack levels, which are roughly at 65 percent of normal for the season.
