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DENVER (CBS4) – One of the first real cold fronts of the season moved over Colorado on Sunday night, causing up to 2 inches of snow in the high mountains. Denver was mostly dry but much cooler.
The largest reports of snow accumulation came from nearly 12,000 feet at the Alpine Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park, where 1 to 2 inches were reported Monday morning. Snow falling above 10,000 feet is not unusual in September, but snow accumulation sometimes waits until October.
There was enough snow for park officials to temporarily close Trail Ridge Road so crews could clear snow and ice. It is likely that the road will reopen soon.
Trail Ridge Rd, USA 34 to #RMNP, temporarily closed at Rainbow Curve, 12 miles from the east side entrances, and at the Colorado River Trailhead, 10 miles from the Grand Lake entrance, due to winter weather conditions including snow and ice. It will reopen when time and conditions permit. ks
– RockyNPS (@RockyNPS) September 20, 2021
Elsewhere there was at least a blanket of snow in many ski areas including Steamboat and Winter Park.
The Loveland Ski Area Snow Picket showed about 1/4 inch of snow Monday morning, which was one of the first measurable snowfalls of the season.
More importantly for Loveland and other ski areas hoping to open in October, temperatures were cold enough (and humidity low enough) to snow on Monday morning. It should be the same from Monday evening to Tuesday morning and from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning.
High temperatures across most of Colorado on Monday will be 15 to 20 degrees cooler than on the weekend. This means the Denver metro area will mostly stay in the ’60s for the coolest day since Memorial Day weekend.
Tuesday morning will likely bring the coolest weather so far this season in many parts of Colorado. It was 46 degrees last Friday morning in Denver but Tuesday morning is expected to be at least a few degrees cooler with a low temperature around 42 degrees.
Despite the cold front, the first frost of the season is not in the forecast this week for Denver. On average, the first frost occurs in the first or second week of October.
Instead, a large warming trend will begin on Wednesday afternoon with above normal temperatures expected for at least 5-7 days.
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