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Colorado Thanksgiving: 'Micro Blizzards' Could Hit Denver, CO
Denver, CO – Imagine heading west on Interstate 70 for Thanksgiving when a sudden wall of blowing snow sweeps across the highway near Vail Pass. Within moments, the mountains disappear behind a white
By Nolan Pierce · 2026-11-14T11:44:03.395Z
Denver, CO – Imagine heading west on Interstate 70 for Thanksgiving when a sudden wall of blowing snow sweeps across the highway near Vail Pass. Within moments, the mountains disappear behind a white curtain, brake lights fade and a familiar holiday drive turns dangerous.
It's a winter travel hazard Colorado motorists should understand before Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 26.
According to the National Weather Service NWS , snow squalls are brief, intense bursts of snowfall that can produce strong winds, near zero visibility and rapidly deteriorating road conditions. Sometimes informally called "micro blizzards," they can create dangerous highway conditions within minutes.
Colorado Highways Where Sudden Whiteouts Are a Concern Interstate 70, connecting Denver, Georgetown, Silverthorne, Vail and Glenwood Springs, is a major Thanksgiving travel corridor where mountain weather can change rapidly.
Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel, Vail Pass and the approaches to the Continental Divide deserve particular attention during winter storms.
Interstate 25 between Colorado Springs, Denver and Fort Collins, U.S. Highway 285 southwest of Denver, and U.S. Highway 40 near Berthoud Pass are additional routes where snow and strong winds can affect driving.
Motorists traveling through Summit, Eagle, Clear Creek, Jefferson and Larimer counties should monitor forecasts before entering higher elevations.
Heavy mountain snowfall is not always classified as a snow squall, but it can produce similarly dangerous visibility problems.
What Happens When a Snow Squall Warning Is Issued? The NWS issues Snow Squall Warnings when dangerous snow squalls are occurring or imminent.
Warnings generally last 30 to 60 minutes and may trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts on compatible mobile phones.
Sudden whiteouts at highway speeds increase the risk of multivehicle crashes, particularly when motorists brake abruptly or follow too closely.
What Thanksgiving Travelers Should Do If a Snow Squall Warning affects a planned route, delay travel until conditions improve .
Drivers already traveling should gradually reduce speed, increase following distance, use low beam headlights and avoid sudden braking.
If visibility becomes dangerously poor, safely exit the highway when possible rather than stopping in an active travel lane.
Colorado motorists should also check applicable traction and chain requirements, carry appropriate winter equipment and prepare for possible mountain pass closures.
Before departing, check COtrip for highway conditions, restrictions and closures.
Official forecasts and warnings are available from NWS Denver/Boulder , NWS Grand Junction and NWS Pueblo , which serve different portions of Colorado.
This is a Thanksgiving travel preparedness reminder, not a prediction that snow squalls will strike Colorado during the holiday. Recognizing how quickly mountain visibility can disappear could help families make safer decisions on Colorado's busiest winter highways.