Snowstorm transforms into a soaker
Homer Suarez shovels a sidewalk along Union Boulevard in Lakewood as a spring storm slams into the metro area on Friday. (Joe Mahoney/INDenverTimes)
Interstate 70 re-opened midday Saturday in both directions after the snowstorm closed it for nearly 80 miles.
At its height, the storm stranded more than 500 travelers on I-70.
The mountains began seeing significant snowfall Thursday, and the storm forced the closing of I-70 between Denver and Vail on Friday afternoon. Hundreds of travelers stayed overnight at two Red Cross shelters in Idaho Springs.
Warmer temperatures and rainfall kept snow from piling up Friday morning in parts of the metro area. Whatever accumulation there was quickly got knocked down by the cold, driving rain Saturday.
The weather service was predicting 8 to 24 inches of snow for the Denver area over the course of the storm — before melting from the rain took place. The mountains and foothills were expected to get 20 to 36 inches of snow, and from Castle Rock south, snow depths could range from 15 to 30 inches. Pinecliffe, in Jefferson County, was reporting 52 inches of snow by early Saturday afternoon.
CDOT was encouraging motorists to call 511 or visit cotrip.org for road condition information.
Traffic moves along in slushy and foggy conditions on Sixth Avenue in Lakewood. (Joe Mahoney/InDenverTimes)
Stranded travelers are encouraged to call the Red Cross’ universal assistance line at 211 for current shelter and warming center locations. Two National Guard trucks left Denver early Saturday morning, heading to the Idaho Springs shelters with cots, blankets and food.
Rettew said that with I-70 re-opening, he expected the number of stranded people to decrease.
Travelers planning on flying in or out of Denver International Airport were urged to check on their flights at FlyDenver.com beforehand.
Temperatures on Saturday are expected to be slightly warmer than Friday’s 30s. By Sunday, mostly sunny weather is expected, with highs in the 50s. Temperatures will warm significantly next week, with highs in the 60s and 70s.
To check on current road advisories, click here.
To read more details from the National Weather Service, click here.
To check on flights at Denver International Airport, click here.
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North Park Hill, 10:45am:
1/2″ of slush (and about four inches of mud).
What does it look like where you are?
Country Club, 11:00 am
Sun is shining,
Obamarians at the gate,
and all’s right with the world.
ahh, sorry Marymor,
I had on my rose colored Maui Jim sunglasses,
actually same here. Streets full of water.
Please advise.
University Hills, 12:53
It’s raining here.
Grocery and liquor stores are busy, stock up soon!
Aurora, Smoky Hill & Quincy, noon:
2 – 3″ of snow on the ground.
North Park Hill, 2:39pm:
Early snow turned to steady rain all day & melted the slush.
Now turning to sleet.
North Park Hill, 3:40pm:
Turned to snow for real now, and starting to stick, even to the side streets.
Great big fluffy puffs of snow, like the world’s biggest pillow exploded. Pretty.
Not so pretty to drive tomorrow morning, I bet.
Sloan’s Lake/Invesco Field 3:55pm
Had everything from snow to sleet to rain to thunder and back to snow now. The rain wiped out most of the early accumulation. Total now here about 2″ Same big wet flakes as Mary sees.
boulder/ front range 7500 ft April 18 th 7:55 am
saturday, still snowing balls… Accumulation approaching 4 feet
University Hills, 8:55 am
Snowing hard, small flakes.
Shoveled 3 – 4 inches Friday 7 pm. Very heavy wet snow. No fun.
North Park Hill 10:23am
Maxed out last night at about 3″ of heavy, wet snow. Shoveled by a friend who owes us a favor.
Currently raining steadily.
Amazing that there is such a huge difference between here & Boulder. Two degrees colder and we would have had at least two feet in my neighborhood by now.
University Hills, 6:13 pm
Slop.
North Park Hill, 6:44 pm
Ditto – slop. Rained all day. Much of the snow literally washed away.
According to a friend at Smoky Hill & Chambers in Aurora, snow off & on all day – no rain. 12+ inches of snow. Wild.
Many thanks to the people that have contributed to this thread – it’s been very interesting.
Thanks for the info, MaryMor, and I’d like to second that note of thanks.
Up here in Westminster, 4-5 inches of absolute slop from yesterday, and heavy rain all day. Starting to see some breaks in the clouds, though. Can’t wait to see what the lawns will look like come Tuesday or so!
Tom Auclair
INDenverTimes staff
Tom,
How does your dog like this weather?
Gene:
He loves it. Don’t all dogs? He especially likes racing around in circles and then wiping out. Not the most graceful dog …
I’m surprised there’s no story on the mass power outtages yet. It’s been 24 hours for me since I’ve had electricity, and Xcel themselves state on the phone recording when you call customer service that there are mass and widespread power outtages. I knew there was a reason our electric bills are so high, it’s so they can work hard to prevent situations like this and react quickly when emergencies do strike (end sarcasm).
StPatty – bummer about your power – is it back on yet? I saw a blurb somewhere yesterday about “8,200 Still Without Power”, but that was about it. I agree it’s odd that there hasn’t been more attention paid to the issue, and not just at InDenverTimes. I guess the road closings and mudslides are a bigger story.
Hope you’re back on.