Aspen under storm warning

ASPEN – Heavy snow and low visibility have prompted the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office to issue an alert urging motorists to travel only if they must, and highway closures around the state are mounting, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Shortly before 5 p.m., CDOT listed westbound Interstate 70 as closed from east of Floyd Hill to Silverthorne. The eastbound lanes from East Vail to Beaver Brook were also closed, as was U.S. 40, in both directions, between Berthoud Falls and Winter Park, and U.S. 6 over Loveland Pass. State Highway 91 south from Copper Mountain to Leadville was closed, as well. Twenty minutes later, U.S. 285 in both directions east of Kenosha Pass was closed due to an accident.

Go to http://www.cotrip.org for up-to-date road conditions around the state.

The mountains surrounding Aspen are under a winter storm warning Tuesday night. Snowfall of 8 to 16 inches is possible, along with wind gusts of up to 40 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Wednesday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high near 27, according to the weather service. On Thursday, mostly sunny skies and a high near 43 is forecast.