Winter Storm in Denver Metropolitan Area, Colorado

A persistent light to moderate snowfall combined with gusty northerly winds to produce extensive blowing and drifting snow. The hardest hit areas were south of Interstate 70, in and near Monument Ridge. Northerly winds 20 to 35 mph with stronger gusts to 45 mph caused near whiteout conditions. The strong winds stirred up 2 to 4 foot snowdrifts and dropped wind chill temperatures well below zero. Numerous accidents were reported. Sections of Interstates 25 and 70 were closed, along with several other roads and highways as travel, became impossible in the blowing snow. A handful of people were stranded during the snowstorm. Snowfall totals included: 22 inches at Conifer, 16 inches 3 miles south of Elbert, 13 inches at Castle Rock, 12 inches at Parker, 10 inches at Strasburg, with 8 inches reported at Kiowa and in southeast Aurora.