A potent spring storm is set to move into Colorado tonight, bringing hazardous travel conditions to much of the state through Wednesday morning, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
Peak storm impacts are expected Tuesday, May 6th, and Wednesday, May 7th, with heavy snow targeting mountain corridors and high foothills while the Denver metro area faces wet, slushy conditions that could worsen overnight as temperatures drop. CDOT has approximately 100 plows staged across the Denver region, with crews prioritizing interstates and major roadways before turning to secondary streets.
One of the primary concerns with this storm is the weight of the snow itself. Wet and heavy accumulations are expected to snap tree branches, which could fall into roadways and bring down power lines. Motorists should be prepared for debris on roads and treat any darkened traffic signals as four-way stops in the event of outages.
The Wednesday morning commute along the Front Range is shaping up to be the most difficult window for travelers. Snow-covered roads at lower elevations are likely before conditions begin to improve Wednesday afternoon.
In northern Colorado, Boulder and Larimer county foothills will see the heaviest accumulations, with impacts possible just east of I-25 and along eastern stretches of I-70 Tuesday night into Wednesday. Along the I-70 Mountain Corridor, slushy to snow-covered conditions will develop Tuesday afternoon and intensify through the evening. Heavy banding could create significant visibility concerns in the mountains.
In southeast Colorado, the Palmer Divide corridor along I-25 can expect wet, slushy snow Tuesday night. Elevations above 5,500 feet, including US 24 west of Colorado Springs and routes through the Wet Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Range, should anticipate accumulation. In southwest Colorado, mountain passes including Monarch Pass on US 50 and La Veta Pass on US 160 could see difficult driving conditions through Wednesday morning.
CDOT advises drivers to allow extra travel time, maintain safe following distances, and check current road conditions at cotrip.org before heading out.
