Clouds moving in

By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 01:33 p.m., May 9, 2008
Updated 01:33 p.m., May 9, 2008

Gray clouds began rolling in this afternoon, bringing rain, hail and thunderstorms to isolated parts of metro Denver and the eastern plains.

Most of the hail will be pea-sized, but a storm or two could bring hail up to an inch in diameter to the eastern plains, say National Weather Service meteorologists.

After a high today of 72, a cold front will drop temperatures to about 40 degrees tonight and to a high of just 56 on Saturday, another day ripe for isolated showers.

The cranky May weather will be polite enough to take a respite on Mother's Day, which is expected to be sunny and calm with a high of about 70.

Monday will be in the low 70s, but another system is expected to move in early Tuesday, bringing a chance of showers and a high of about 57.

The high country should be quite gusty today and have a mix of snow and rain on Saturday morning.

High-altitude towns such as Georgetown and Breckenridge could get a couple of inches of snow. Saturday's highs will be only in the mid-30s, before getting about 20 degrees warmer than that for Sunday.

I-70 eastbound at Vail Pass was closed early this morning due to several accidents caused by ice and blowing snow. It reopened to passenger vehicles about 5:45 a.m., and chain restrictions have been lifted, the Colorado Department of Transportation reported.

Loveland and Berthoud passes, Vail Pass and the Eisenhower Tunnel along I-70 all are wet and icy.