Snow blankets high country
Winter comes to the mountains

Aspen Times via AP
A pedestrian leaves tracks in freshly fallen snow in Aspen this
morning.




By Susan Wells and Paola Farer, 9NEWS

A round of storms is bringing winter driving conditions to the high
country and flash flood watches to western Colorado.

A chain law went into effect today for all semi trucks headed
eastbound over Vail Pass. A mixture of snow and rain made I-70
treacherous, especially for vehicles without snow tires.

The skies cleared around noon and the restriction was lifted. But
9NEWS forecaster Kathy Sabine said to expect more snow showers on and
off during the day.

As a new line of storms moved into the western part of the state this
morning, a severe thunder storm warning was posted for Grand Junction.
About 200 people living in west Glenwood Springs were on alert for
possible mudslides in an area where the Coal Seam wildfire stripped
hillsides bare last summer.

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office said that they were paying close
attention to levels in Mitchell Creek.

There was light snow falling up at the Eisenhower Tunnel that later
turned to rain.
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Sabine predicted that another two or three inches of snow will fall
above 10,000 feet today. She said up to five inches are possible above
12,000 feet.

In southwestern Colorado, the San Juan peaks got five to 10 inches of
snow overnight. A winter storm advisory was posted for northwestern
Colorado.

More rain is expected to fall this afternoon in the metro area, 9NEWS
forecasters said. Thursday the weather will clear and then another
round of storms will move in Saturday. Sunday should be dry.

For more details, video, live pictures and severe-weather alerts, go
to 9NEWS.com.