Snowstorm creates DIA delays, cancellations, and leads to road closures

The storm hitting Colorado Monday morning snarled roads, compelled the cancellation of flights, and delayed classes.

U.S. 6 west of metro Denver was closed due to safety concerns between Mile Point 222 and Interstate 70, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. For heavy trucks carrying hazardous materials over Loveland Pass, CDOT officials early Monday announced staging at the Eisenhower Tunnel for rolling at the top of the hour as traffic allows.

CDOT officials warned drivers to expect potentially hazardous conditions on roads Monday morning due to blowing snow and ice with possible blizzards on the eastern plains. Interstate 25 between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs and Interstate 70 east of metro Denver near Limon were expected to be difficult due to high wind and weather alerts were issued, effective through Monday afternoon. CDOT officials closed highways south of Lamar and La Junta in southwestern Colorado including U.S. 160 eastward from Kim to Kansas.

School officials in the Colorado Springs area announced delayed openings due to the storm.

At 7:42 a.m., 56 flights in and out of Denver International Airport were listed as canceled and 44 were delayed as the snowstorm rolled across south metro Denver, according to the FlightAware flight-tracking website. The temperature at DIA was 19 degrees amid scattered snow and wind gusts, National Weather Service forecasters said.

The weather service issued a winter weather advisory for south metro Denver, forecasting up 4 inches of snow south of Interstate 70 and high winds. Most of the snow is expected to fall before noon.