UPDATE, 6 a.m. Tuesday: Tuesday will be worse.
Denver and the metro area are facing winter conditions after a snowstorm dropped several inches of snow in the region, prompting delayed starts for metro area schools including Denver and Aurora public schools, and CDOT warning drivers to delay or avoid driving in the metro area.
"This is a good morning to work from home or delay your commute," a travel advisory from CDOT said Monday morning.
The National Weather Service predicted difficult to travel on Monday, adding those conditions would likely impact the morning commute. Todd Dankers, of the National Weather Service Office in Boulder, said DIA got about 3 to 4 inches overnight but his office had not received reports from downtown Denver this morning as of 5:30 a.m.
He said folks should expect another one to two inches in the metro area by 9 a.m. Monday. NWS previously forecasted five inches of snow in Denver. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network reported between 5 to 6 inches of snow in central Denver.
Bernie Meyer, a meteorologist at the NWS, said the snow should stop by noon Monday. The snowstorm lasted about 10 to 15 hours, Meyer said, with snow picking up around 8 p.m. on Sunday at DIA. He called the storm's length about average.
That's a far cry from the city's biggest snowstorm. Meyer said a storm in 1913 lasting from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5 dumped 45.7 inches of snow in the city. That dwarfs even the historic 2003 blizzard that left 31.8 inches of snow in Denver.
CDOT warned the snowfall and cold temperatures were expected to make roads icy.
RTD said in a tweet some trips are having 15 to 30-minute delays. They're asking passengers to expect extra travel time on bus and train routes.
Denver police reported 28 crashes since midnight as of 9:30 a.m. on Monday. Police said three "puffers" -- cars left unattended while warming up -- were reportedly stolen.
Denver Public Schools said Monday morning on Twitter all schools were on a two-hour delay. They said bus routes would be adjusted accordingly. The city is on a two-hour delayed start, with city offices scheduled to open at 10 a.m., according to a tweet from Mayor Michael Hancock.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools were on a two-hour delay as well, while the Cherry Creek School District said they were also on a delayed start. Aurora Public Schools were on a one-hour delay. JeffCo Public Schools weren't open due to a scheduled professional development day. JeffCo said in a tweet some charter schools follow a different schedule.
The Auraria Campus in Denver will be on a two-hour delayed start. The campus includes CU Denver, Metro State University and the Community College of Denver. Classes starting before 10 a.m. are canceled, according to a tweet from MSU.
A statement from Gov. Jared Polis' office said state offices in Denver and surrounding areas would open at 10 a.m. Monday due to weather conditions.
"State facilities essential to public health and safety will maintain regular operating schedules and 'essential personnel' will maintain regular schedules," the statement from Polis' office said.
Denver International Airport said crews worked overnight to clear out runways. Delays were expected. Emily Williams, a spokesperson for DIA, said shortly before 6:30 a.m. Monday the airport had at least 176 delays from inbound and outbound flights and 76 cancellations, mostly from routes using smaller aircraft. Williams said travelers should check with their airline before coming to the airport.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for Denver, Castle Rock, Boulder and western Denver suburbs until 6 p.m. today, according to the NWS.
The city lets you track its plow trucks, which were deployed starting on Sunday night as the storm began in the metro area. Drivers were expected to be on duty overnight.
CDOT doesn't recommend you drive out unless you have the right snow or all-weather tires. But if you do head out, they suggest you double your commute time, take it slow and leave a safe distance behind a vehicle. They suggest checking weather conditions on their website.
This story has been updated throughout.
