Snow Picking Up in Colorado High Country

Dangerous driving conditions expected as up to 2 feet of snow possible

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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A winter storm is bringing heavy snow accumulations of up to 2 feet to the Colorado mountains, leading to potentially dangerous driving conditions. The Denver metro area and northeastern plains are also under critical fire weather conditions. The Denver7 news team is tracking the latest weather impacts and alerts.

Why it matters

Heavy snow in the High Country can make travel treacherous, leading to road closures, accidents, and disruptions. The combination of snow in the mountains and fire risk in the plains highlights the extreme weather conditions Colorado is facing.

The details

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for the Colorado mountains, where snow squalls could quickly reduce visibility and lead to chain-reaction accidents. Power outages have also been reported, with around 2,200 customers impacted in the Fort Collins area.

  • As of 6:30 a.m., snow has picked up near the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70.
  • Conditions along I-70 through the High Country are expected to "rapidly deteriorate" after 6 a.m. as snow increases.

The players

Poudre Valley REA

The utility company reporting a power outage affecting around 2,200 customers in the Fort Collins area.

National Weather Service

The government agency that has issued winter storm warnings for the Colorado mountains, warning of dangerous snow squalls.

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What they’re saying

“Crews will attempt rerouting power to get everone back on. This allows us to bypass an issue or damaged piece of equipment, restoring service to members while we idenify, isolate, and repair the cause of the outage.”

— Poudre Valley REA (denver7.com)

What’s next

The Denver7 news team will continue to monitor the weather conditions and provide updates on the impacts throughout the day.

The takeaway

This winter storm highlights the need for Colorado residents to be prepared for rapidly changing and extreme weather conditions, especially when traveling in the mountains during the winter months.