Snowfall between 8 to 16 inches will pile up by Monday, Jan. 15, at 5 p.m. across parts of Summit County, according to a National Weather Service winter storm warning issued Sunday afternoon.

Wind gusts are expected to hit 60 mph, causing whiteout conditions, the warning states.

Travel may become very difficult due to heavy snowfall on roadways. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility,” the warning states. “The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes.”

After an avalanche hit 10 vehicles on Berthoud Pass around 11:20 a.m. Sunday, the Colorado Department of Transportation issued a warning to travelers as heavy snowfall piles up on top of a weak layer in the snowpack, elevating avalanche danger across the state. The dangerous conditions caused the Colorado Avalanche Information Center to release a special avalanche warning ahead of the holiday weekend.

Avalanche danger currently sits at “high” for all mountains in the Interstate 70 corridor, which is a Level 4 on a five-point scale, and Avalanche Information Center officials say the danger expected to elevate even once the snow stops falling.

CDOT says Berthoud Pass will remain closed through the night until Monday morning. U.S. Highway 6 over Loveland Pass has been closed for a majority of the weekend due to safety concerns, and CDOT says other highways could close at any time throughout the snowstorm.

“Travelers should be prepared for possible safety closures on highways across Colorado’s High Country, including I-70. Safety closures are implemented, sometimes on quick notice, when extreme adverse conditions or high avalanche danger arises,” CDOT stated in its new release Sunday night. “Closures are also needed when avalanche mitigation and snow removal operations are performed.”

CDOT says the “safety closures are likely” as crews work to mitigate avalanche risks as snowfall continues through Tuesday.

Dozens of drivers took to social media Sunday to report standstill traffic on I-70 due to multiple vehicles off the roadway, blocking traffic and stalled in the snowy and icy conditions. Colorado Highway 9 over Hoosier Pass saw multiple accidents and stuck vehicles.