DENVER — A heavy spring snowstorm is expected to dump up to 11 inches of snow in the Colorado mountains by Thursday night.

Authorities closed westbound Interstate 70 on Floyd Hill just west of Denver for about 90 minutes because of a rash of minor accidents blamed on the weather.

State Patrol Master Trooper Ron Watkins describes them as fender-benders or vehicles sliding off the roadway. Watkins says he’s not sure how many vehicles were involved but no injuries have been reported.

Watkins says up to 40 cars have been involved in minor accidents on U.S. 36 near Lyons, 30 miles northwest of Denver. No injuries have been reported there.
The storm prompted authorities to require chains on commercial vehicles on more than a half-dozen mountain passes.