Much of state wakes up to pile of frost ’n’ flakes
No sugarcoating: Storm sticking around through Friday
A late-spring storm brought heavy snow and strong winds to the Front Range on Thursday with areas in the foothills being buried in more than 2 feet of snow.
The town of Ward, in the foothills west of Boulder, received 33 inches of snow by late Thursday, and Allenspark, also in Boulder County and nestled below Longs Peak, received 30 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
In Loveland a barn collapsed Thursday afternoon under the weight of heavy snow. And Arapahoe Basin Ski area, the lone ski mountain still operating in the state, happily announced that there’s “a foot of fresh out there!”
A winter storm warning, posted by the weather service, remains in effect for Denver and much of the metro area until Friday evening as the strong spring snowstorm takes its time, with the potential to dump more snow.
The National Weather Service in Boulder said Thursday night into the early morning hours Friday are set to be the most potent for the city; snowfall could be moderate to heavy at times. That could mean a sloppy Friday morning commute.
“It could be ugly,” said Robert Koopmeiners, a weather service meteorologist. “It will gather on the road until we can get it off or until the sun comes out.”
The storm already has caused the closures of mountain roads, forced the cancellation of Denver-area high school graduation ceremonies, led to the postponement of the state high school track meet and left the Front Range wondering where the sunshine and warmth from earlier in the week had gone. The winter storm warning is in effect until 3 p.m. Friday for Denver and the urban corridor and 6 p.m. for the high country.
In Denver proper, forecasters are still calling for up to 6 inches of snow to pile up by the end of the storm. In areas directly south and west, especially along the Palmer Divide, up to a foot or more of snow could fall.
Koopmeiners said Interstate 25 between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs and the Interstate 70 corridor from Golden to Grand Junction are expected to be especially treacherous.
“Snowfall (will be) moderate to heavy at times especially in areas west of I-25 and on the higher terrain of the Palmer Divide through Friday morning,” the weather service said in its warning.
The high country — from Silverthorne and Vail to Snowmass and Crested Butte — is also under a winter storm warning, where more than 2 feet of snow could drop. Snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour are likely at times on eastfacing slopes in Summit, Park, Clear Creek and western Boulder counties.