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Vail, Colo. • The calendar may say it's the fall season, but the weatherman says it's time to brace for wintery weather in Colorado.
The National Weather Service issued a winter-weather advisory Sunday for the Park, Gore and Elk mountains and central mountain valleys with up to 8 inches of snow expected and winds gusting to 40 mph.
It was snowing in the mountains Sunday afternoon with about 3 inches already on the ground in Breckenridge and Fairplay.
Weather can be fickle this time of year, especially in the Colorado mountains, and people need to be ready, National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Kalina said. It is also the beginning of the hunting season.
Several accidents and snowy conditions closed Interstate 70 at the Eisenhower Tunnel for a short time Sunday. Colorado Department of Transportation traffic manager Brian Jordon said traffic in both directions was shut down off and on at the tunnel because of fender-benders and spin-outs.
Forecasters said some areas of the Front Range above 9,000 feet could see up to 8 inches of snow along with gusty winds.
On the eastern plains, high winds and thunderstorms were forecast.