Colorado & Denver News

DENVER (CBS4/AP) ― The winter storm that pounded the mountains of Colorado all weekend will trickle into the Denver area Monday with up to a couple inches of snow forecast to fall downtown by day's end. The evening commute could be a little messy because of the snowfall, which will be most intense after noon.

Another inch or two is forecast to fall in areas south of Denver along the Front Range with higher accumulations west of Denver into the foothills.

The higher elevations of Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Park, Grand and Summit Counties are under a snow advisory Monday until 6 p.m. for another 5-8 inches of snow. The winter storm and heavy snow warnings for western Colorado remain in effect through Monday, with another 1 to 2 feet of snow possible in some areas.

Chain restrictions were in place at the Eisenhower Tunnel, Loveland Pass and over Vail Pass, the Colorado Department of Transportation said. Interstate 70 was closed earlier Monday at the Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail Pass for avalanche control blasting.

La Plata County was opened two emergency shelters for residents Sunday, after power lines downed by heavy snow and falling trees left thousands of people without heat and electricity for a second day.

A storm that arrived Saturday began dumping snow that clogged roads and left thousands without power, said Butch Knowlton, director of the county office of emergency preparedness.

Two county snowplows got stuck trying to clear snow and slush.

More than 4,000 La Plata Electric Association customers were still without power Sunday afternoon, he said. Crews, including some called in from New Mexico, were working around the clock to restore power.

The storm disrupted communications for emergency responders after electrical lines serving radio repeaters were damaged, but communications were rerouted, county emergency management officials said.

Emergency shelters opened at Bayfield High School and at the county fairgrounds in Durango. Bayfield School District Superintendent Don Magill said the high school canceled a staff work day Monday, and students had not been due to return to class until Tuesday.

"We're working to help people keep warm tonight, help those who don't have heat," Knowlton said.

Meanwhile, 14 search and rescue workers were looking for six snowmobilers from New Mexico last seen on Friday near 10,222-foot Cumbres Pass, just north of the New Mexico border, said Donna Oney, a spokeswoman with the Colorado State Patrol. The search was hampered by heavy wind and snow, which closed Cumbres Pass to travelers Sunday.

In Mineral County, rescuers were looking for two skiers in their mid-20s who were reported missing near Wolf Creek ski area, Sheriff Fred Hosselkus said. The men's car, with New Mexico license plates, was found in the resort parking lot Saturday night.

Several mountain passes in southwest Colorado were closed due to poor weather. Avalanches closed U.S. 550 at Red Mountain Pass, Colorado 149 north of Lake City and U.S. 160 over Wolf Creek Pass.

CDOT officials said Wolf Creek Pass was not expected to open until at least Monday.

Among southwest Colorado ski areas Sunday, Silverton Mountain and Wolf Creek reported nearly 3 1/2 feet of new snow in the past 48 hours, but all roads to Silverton Mountain were closed. Purgatory Mountain reported nearly 2 1/2 feet of fresh snow.

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