Up to 11 inches of snow is forecast over high terrain into Thursday morning under new winter weather advisories from the National Weather Service. Forecasters expect slippery roads during the Wednesday evening commute, and when the state activates the traction law on the mountain highways covered by the advisories, every passenger car has to meet its traction requirements, either with qualifying tires or with chains or an approved alternative traction device.
Snow Totals And Timing Across Three Advisory Zones
NWS Denver has the winter weather advisory in effect from 4 p.m. ET Wednesday to 4 a.m. ET Thursday for the mountains of Summit County, the Mosquito Range, the Indian Peaks and South Park, including the Eisenhower Tunnel, Berthoud Pass, Breckenridge, Winter Park and Fairplay. Total accumulation is forecast at 3 to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts in the Mosquito Range, and the office expects slippery spots along the US 285 corridor.
Two neighboring offices run from the same hour to 7 a.m. ET Thursday. NWS Pueblo forecasts 4 to 9 inches, locally up to 11, for the Sawatch and Mosquito ranges and Pikes Peak, mostly above 11,000 feet, and says travel could be very difficult. NWS Grand Junction expects 4 to 8 inches above 10,000 feet in the Gore and Elk Mountains, covering Vail Pass, Vail and Aspen, and warns that bridges and overpasses will likely turn slick. Vail Pass remains under an advisory until 7 a.m. ET Thursday, three hours after the one covering Summit County expires.
Colorado’s Traction Law Now Covers Every Passenger Car
CDOT can activate the passenger vehicle traction law on any state highway, and on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison it applies from Sept. 1 through May 31, according to the agency. Each activation is posted on overhead message boards and the COtrip map. A new state law signed May 5 makes clear that it applies to all passenger vehicles, two-wheel drive included, not only four-wheel and all-wheel drive models, the Post Independent reports.
To comply, tires need at least 3/16 inch of tread and an all weather rating, an M+S or M/S marking, or the mountain and snowflake symbol. Cars without qualifying tires need chains or an approved alternative traction device on at least two tires, and CDOT lists the fine at $100 plus a $33 surcharge, rising to $500 plus $157 if the vehicle ends up closing a travel lane. A separate passenger vehicle chain law, which requires chains or an approved alternative traction device on every car regardless of tire type, is a last resort that CDOT last activated in March 2019. NWS Denver points drivers to cotrip.org or the 511 phone line for current road conditions.
About the author
Adam Lynton
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Autoblog