High Country Snow Creates Dangerous Driving Conditions

GEORGETOWN, Colo. (CBS4) - A sudden snowstorm has turned fall into more like winter in parts of the high country.

Snow, ice and poor driving conditions have led to numerous accidents at the Eisenhower and Johnson Tunnels.

The Colorado Department of Transportation closed Interstate 70 in both directions for more than an hour during the morning commute from Georgetown to Silverthorne. At 9 a.m. the highway had reopened.

"Sliding, it isn't fun. Sliding into diesel, that isn't fun because you don't want to hit anybody, especially these cars out here," said driver Corey Whitehead.

Loveland Ski Area, right next to the tunnels, is using this blast of winter to turn on its snow guns for the first time.

The ski area turned them on about 10 p.m. Monday night. Loveland hopes to have enough of a base of snow to open later this month.

CBS4 meteorologist Ashton Altieri says light snow is expected to continue through Tuesday morning in the high country.

In:
• Interstate 70
• Silverthorne