Dec 8, 2009 6:24 pm US/Mountain
Thermometer To Drop Below Zero As Freeze Continues
DENVER (CBS4) ―
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YouReporter Caroline Van Berkum from Rainbow Trout Lake sent in this photo on Dec. 8, 2009. She wrote, "We couldn't make it into school as we've had 36-plus inches since yesterday morning."
Caroline Van Berkum/YouReport
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An image of the crash Tuesday morning at 6th Avenue near Garrison Street
CBS
Snow and frigid temperatures on Tuesday led to a miserable morning commute for many Denver metro area drivers.
The strong Pacific storm system that's bringing heavy snow to the western and southwestern parts of the state is only dropping light snow in Denver, but the temperatures are in the single digits and conditions are icy. Temperatures will also drop to about -6 degrees overnight in the Mile High City.
On Tuesday morning multiple accidents were reported across Denver roads and highways. One accident was on 6th Avenue near Garrison Street and involved a pregnant woman who was on her way to the doctor's office.
Jessica Dominguez said the car in front of her stopped suddenly so she slammed on her breaks but the vehicle spun into a wall.
"It was really the scariest thing I've been in in my life," she said.
Dominguez told CBS4 she came out of the accident only a bit shaken up but that the seat belt got very tight on her stomach during the crash and it has her worried about her baby's health.
Colorado AAA told CBS4 they have had a very busy week so far helping motorists with courtesy calls and are blaming the cold temperatures. AAA officials said many drivers are having issues with dead batteries.
The snow has been steady in Colorado's high country and a blizzard warning is in effect in the San Juan Mountains in the state's southwest corner until 6 p.m. That includes Telluride, Ouray and Silverton. In the Durango area, heavy snow and strong winds closed the Durango-La Plata County airport and knocked out power to an estimated 1,200 customers. About 250 homes and businesses were still without power Tuesday afternoon as crews worked to put up new power lines and poles.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center issued avalanche watches for most of the Colorado high country. An Avalanche Warning has been issued for the San Juan range, which includes the mountains around Durango, Silverton, Telluride, Ouray, Lake City, Creede and Wolf Creek Pass. Both human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely in these areas. Ethan Greene, Director of the CAIC, said that conditions in watch areas are expected to deteriorate as the storm progresses. (
Visit the CAIC Web site)
Many ski resort areas are getting hit hard. Mountain newsroom reporter Stan Bush said the snow in Frisco near Breckenridge has been coming through in waves but has been steady most of the day. Southern areas are getting hit the hardest -- Wolf Creek Ski Resort reports 4 feet of snow with this storm and Silverton has had more than 2 feet.
Meteorologist Jennifer Zeppelin said snow totals will be around 1 to 3 inches in Denver with 2 to 7 inches above 6,000 feet.
Tuesday morning Colorado State Patrol put out a warning to drivers to be very careful using Interstate 70, Highway 82 and US 6 because of very poor road conditions. Among the passes closed because of the snow are Loveland Pass and La Veta Pass. Chain laws were also posted for many of the mountain passes in Western Colorado.
Several schools in southwestern Colorado and in the Roaring Fork valley shut down Tuesday because of the wintry weather.
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(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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