The storm system moving into Colorado Wednesday is forecasted to bring heavy snow into the western suburbs of Denver and communities north, including Boulder and Fort Collins.
Snow will continue throughout the day and may cause issues with morning and evening commutes, especially as the temperature dips this afternoon and freezes some roadways.
Below are the latest updates on the impacts of this storm.
Thursday, Feb. 23
5:21 p.m. | Wind chills | The wind chill readings this morning are frigid, especially over the eastern plains, where the range is between -25 and -35, according to the NWS.
Wind Chill Readings across the Plains range from -25 to -35 this morning. #cowx pic.twitter.com/HHR3n272eL
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) February 23, 2023
5:11 a.m. | New record low in Denver | The NWS out of Boulder said Denver has reached a new record low on Feb. 23 with a reading of -11 degrees. This breaks the previous record of -7 in 2022. And it could still get colder!
4:04 a.m. | Douglas County School District | The school district will be on a 90-minute delay today due to low temperatures.
Wednesday, Feb. 24
9:39 p.m. | Jeffco Public Schools | All Jeffco Public Schools buildings and facilities will be on a two-hour delay schedule on Thursday due to dangerously cold temperatures and poor road conditions.
9:15 p.m. | DPS | All DPS schools are delayed by two hours Thursday due to severe weather. All school-related events and activities will also be delayed by two hours for the safety of our students and staff members.
8:51 p.m. | 27J Schools | Due to inclement weather and anticipated road conditions, all district-managed schools will be delayed two hours Thursday.
8:19 p.m. | Traffic update| Georgetown is "closed" due to weather-related traffic on Interstate 70, Colorado State Patrol announced.
In a tweet, the department said unchained semi-trucks have "choked I-70 so badly that the Town of Georgetown (exit 228) is completely plugged too." You can read more here.
8:13 p.m. | Five Star Schools | All schools in the Five Star District will open on a 1-hour delayed start on Thursday due to wind chills and low temperatures.
4:10 p.m. | Traffic update | Highway 40 is back open in both directions to all traffic, according to the Grand County Sheriff's Office.
3:53 p.m. | Road closure | Highway 40 remains closed over Rabbit Ears Pass, according to the the Grand County Sheriff's Office. Local traffic to Gore Pass and Highway 134 is allowed at this time. Roads remain icy with high winds and blowing snow causing white out conditions
2:43 p.m. | Road closure | Eastbound Highway 14 was closed due to "hazardous weather conditions," according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Jackson County Road and Bridge is working to get a Grader unstuck that went off the road due to whiteout conditions.
2:36 p.m. | Road closure | US 40 was closed from Mile Point 184 to Mile Point 139 for blowing snow.
#US40 westbound: Road closed due to safety concerns between Spruce Street and Kemry Lane. https://t.co/bJySP6zRgV
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) February 22, 2023
2:02 p.m. | Power outage | The Town of Silverton is experiencing a town-wide outage due to blizzard conditions in the area, according to the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management.
Officials said the Silverton grocery story is open on a generator and can only take cash.
1:30 p.m. | Road closures | Here's a look at the statewide road closures from the Colorado Department of Transportation as of 1:30 p.m. due to "extreme winter conditions":
- CO-65, mile 28-35 (Grand Mesa), Will be closed until 2/23/23.
- CO-145, mile 48-100 (Lizard Head Pass)
- CO-491, mile 30-65 (Yellow Jacket)
- CO-139, mile 32-40 (Douglas Pass)
- CO-62, mile 0-23 (Dallas Divide)
- US-550, mile 48-95 (Red Mtn, Molas, Coal Bank)
- US-160, mile 157-184 (Wolf Creek Pass)
- US-6, mile 222-229 (Loveland Pass)
- US-50, mile 109
- CO-17, MP 0-17 (Cumbres-La Manga Pas
12:48 a.m. | Silverthorne update | A snow squall is in effect until 1:45 p.m. for I-70 and US 6 near Silverthorne and Frisco.
12:25 p.m. | Mountain travel | Conditions on I-70 west of Denver are poor and only getting worse as the afternoon goes on. Roads are snow-covered and travel is slow.
Conditions on I-70 west of Denver are bad & will get worse this afternoon when snow from western Colorado moves into the area. Expect snow covered roads & very slow travel this afternoon. #cowx pic.twitter.com/dp7os3Nn5N
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) February 22, 2023
12:21 p.m. | San Miguel County update | Colorado State Patrol has closed all of Highway 62 due to lack of visibility. Highway 145 is open except for Lizard Pass. Conditions will remain about the same until 4 a.m. Thursday.
12:17 p.m. | Alamosa update | A snow squall is in effect until 1 p.m. for US 160, US 285 near Alamosa and US 160 and US 285 near Monte Vista.
12:11 p.m. | Highway closures | Colorado Highway 145, US 160, US 491 and US 550 are closed due to adverse travel conditions.
12:02 p.m. | Snow squalls long I-25 | The NWS says snow squalls will move over the I-25 corridor during the early and mid-afternoon hours. Visibility will be reduced and wind gusts will pick up.
Snow squalls will move over the I-25 corridor during the early and mid afternoon time period. Expect rapidly reduced visibilities, wind gusts to 45 to 55 mph and a quick one to two inches of snow. Visibility may be reduced to 1/4 of a mile or less. #cowx pic.twitter.com/dwOZd2Ga4U
— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) February 22, 2023
10:48 a.m. | San Miguel County | Highway 145 and Highway 62 are now closed until further notice due to blizzard conditions.
10:30 a.m. | Wind reports | The Durango airport recently saw a 68 mph gust. The Meeker airport saw a 59 mph gust.
#Windy out there? Ya might say. Durango airport came in with a 68 mph gust. Meeker airport 59 mph, Blanding airport 58 mph, Grand Junction 56 mph, Craig airport 52 mph, Rifle airport, 52 mph, Cortez airport 49 mph, Montrose airport 48 mph. Take it easy out there!
— NWS Grand Junction (@NWSGJT) February 22, 2023
8:22 a.m. | Arvada update | Arvada Fire says multiple vehicles are stuck northbound on Wadsworth near W. 62nd due to icy conditions. No injuries have been reported. Avoid the area if you can.
8:15 a.m. | Airport updates | The Federal Aviation Administration said that arrivals to DIA are delayed by an average of 83 minutes due to snow and ice. However, incoming flights that are already airborne are only delayed by a maximum of 15 minutes.
It’s really coming down here at DEN ❄️ ❄️ ❄️
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) February 22, 2023
Some flights are experiencing delays. Drive safely and check your flight status with your airline before heading to the airport. #cowx
Denver currently has 185 total delays at the airport and 200 total cancellations, according to FlightAware.com.
8:13 a.m. | Grand Junction update | A snow squall warning is in effect until 8:45 a.m. for I-70, US 50 and US 6 near Grand Junction.
7:25 a.m. | Overnight shelter | Denver’s Department of Housing Stability will activate Rude Recreation Center, located at 2855 W. Holden Place, to expand overnight shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness on Wednesday and Thursday evening.
7 a.m. | Accident alert | Multiple cities are under accident alert. This means if you are in a crash where nobody is injured and DUI is not suspected, get the other person's information and alert police at a later time. This includes Denver, Jefferson County, Clear Creek County, Gilpin County, Castle Rock, Broomfield and Fort Collins, among others.
6:50 a.m. | Airport updates | According to the FAA, a ground delay was ordered and departures to the Denver International Airport are now delayed by an average of 83 minutes due to snow and ice.
Total cancellations at the airport currently total 192.
6 a.m. | I-25 crash | The four left lanes of northbound I-25 are closed due to a crash involving a jack-knifed semi at Hampden Avenue in the Denver Tech Center. The far right lane and left shoulder are open, but traffic is building. It will take 90 minutes to drive from Dry Creek to 225.
Denver7 is working to learn more about this crash and when other lanes may reopen. Traffic Expert Jayson Luber says side streets are a much better option.
They have one lane to the left and one to the right getting past the jackknifed semi on NB 25 at 225. 90 minutes from Dry Creek to 225 so side roads are a better option. pic.twitter.com/B6gLYpYCa1
— Jayson Luber (@Denver7Traffic) February 22, 2023
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