Accident. We have Team Coverage now Matt Kroschel is at the eisenhower tunnel. But lets start with meteorologist ashton altieri. Hey, ashton. Im warmer an matt is now with all that snow. This is i70 and genesee, look at the snow falling. 26 there. 36 here in denver. Few snowflakes flying around town and that will continue the through this evening. Doppler 4000 this is the first snowfall of the season of course for the denver area. Just four days shy of what would have been a record for thefirst snow on record. First batch coming through early this afternoon and the second one for the evening commute. Lets take you through time here. Im going to pause the futurecast at 3 00 p. M. Notice a few snow showers 6 00 with snow falling around denver, boulder, perhaps snow around fort collins and some of that could be heavy at times i 25 through Douglas County and over Monument Hill to the springs. By 9 00 p. M. The snow is winding down by that point. By hid night tonight midnight not much snow left. How much snow are we going to see . Expecting up to 2 inches in the metro area. Most of that on the ground. Pes and closer to Monument Hill. The mountains, 4 to 10 inches of very welcomed snow. The ski areas obviously very happy about this. And of course today much colder. Its 45 degrees colder outside now than it was yesterday at this time. Coming up well talk about all this in more detail and well talk about what happens after this storm departs tonight. Forecast for friday and the weekend is straight ahead. I know who is a lot colder right now. Country has wanted, but maybe not the drivers, matt. Reporter no, absolutely not. But i can tell you all those folks on the hill and looking ahead to this weekend of skiing are going to love this fresh snow. I want to get to some of the road conditions. We have new information from cdot. Eisenhower tunnel westbound i 70 to silverthorne closed down because they are trying to clear a lot of wrecks. Its also closed on i just confirmed information from the Colorado State patrol that weve had a fatal crash near silverthorne, a rollover with a fatality. Dangerous conditions up here now. I want to show you the video of what it looked like as we were coming up eastbound from silverthorne here to the tunnel. This was just shot within the last hour. You can see how those conditions have changed so quickly up here. The amount of snow, the its starting to stick here. We got up here just as most of the vehicles decided to pull off and wait this thing out until those plows could get back out. Out here live i can show you this basically didnt have snow on it when we got here, and here we are now with i70 closed from the tunnel to silverthorne westbound and eastbound is slow going, if anybody is making it up, ive only seen a few cars. We saw a completely pulled off the side of the road there and jackknifed. Not a fun day for drivers. Great day for skiers. Live at the eisenhower tunnel, Matt Kroschel. Cdot has been ready for the snow. Theyre getting ready for more tow plows that clear snow from two lanes at the same time. They have 13 and will get another 10 next year. They also have 142 traditional for the mountain corridor. Doing our job effectively means getting moms and dads to and from work safely, kids to and from school, friends to Community Events and goods we depend on delivered to their destination. Cdot reminding drivers dont try to pass a plow, especially the tow plows. The safest place is behind th and traffic by heading to cbsdenver. Com any time. Today president elect donald trump will host japans Prime Minister. Cbss Kenneth Craig explains. Reporter donald trump junior posed with security guards at trump tower this morning as the president elects Team Continues its kissinger and north carolinas governor nikki haley. Hes loving this role, taking many phone calls, going through paperwork and discussing forming his cabinet and hes enjoying it. Reporter published reports say mr. Trumps soninlaw is being considered for a top level white house role. Cbs news has learned trump has five frontrunners for key positions in the white house. Former director of the defense intense agency mike flynn is the favorite for National Security advisor. Vice president elect mike pence met with Congressional Republicans about moving the trump agenda forward. Rebuild our military, revive our economy. Reporter later today trump will meet with japans Prime Minister who says he wants to build trust with the next president. Hillary clinton struck an appearance since last week. She told supporters to stay engaged. Thats how we get through this. Reporter she spoke at the childrens defense fund, the nonprofit where she started her career. Kenneth craig, cbs news, new york. Obama continues his final foreign visit. Hes in berlin today. It is his sixth visit to germany during his administration. Hes visiting chancellor merkel, he said he could not ask reliable partner on the world stage. He says a Strong Alliance protects the future. If we dont have a strong Transatlantic Alliance standing up for those things, we will be giving to our children a worse world. We will go backwards instead of forwards. Whoever the u. S. President is, whoever the chancellor of germany is, we need to remember that and our citizenry who decide who our president s and chancellors are, need to great britain, italy and spain. An update on the man whod a mided to opening fire on the planned parenthood a year ago. The judge has again ruled robert dear is not competent to stand trial. He was yelling again as he entered the courtroom again this morning. This means he goes back for more treatment at the Mental Health facility to see if his condition find out what sparked a deadly gas explosion in central illinois. It killed at least one person and leveled a building. There used to be a building there, guys. Reporter video captured shortly after the blast shows how powerful the explosion was. It was around 6 00 p. M. Man, a utility worker investigating a leak. 11 others injured. Glass blown everywhere. Reporter debris from damaged buildings littered the streets while emergency workers scrambled to help the injured. This video taken from inside a nearby local business displayed the strength of the explosion. Just a massive rumble and a big boom and ju reporter overnight Community Members wasted no time picking up the pieces, boarding up broken windows and cleaning up affected businesses. I might lose the building. Reporter jeff hawk owns a local shop that was also devastated by the blast. Theres been reports that people that felt it on the other side of the lake, like 5 miles from downtown. People heard it from that far area. Theyve brought in a team of Structural Engineers to look at the other buildings. Few minutes ago Matt Kroschel told us the highway was closed tunnel to silverthorne, but now we give you a live look at georgetown, because cdot is telling us, state patrol telling us as well, the highway is now closed at georgetown and that runs the highway is closed there. You see the camera panning up and the backups caused by this. As you go higher up you have the heavy snow falling because of crashes, i70 georgetown to silverthorne closed, traction law in effect as well. Coming up, good news for parents about booster seats. How well theyre doing when it comes to keeping our kids safe. Plus, its time to start ,,, happening now, were getting ready for the holidays and getting help in planning our fun with our mile high holidays program. Jamie leary, looks a lot like christmas already. Reporter despite the 80s yesterday, the snowfall today couldnt be more timed. This is one of the many amazing traditions you can take part in throughout this month and next couple of weeks as well. We have a lot of things going on that showcase the spirit of the city. More than 500 events happening between now through new years eve up to the western stock show. Of course, here you can get your usual picture with santa. But there is a new twist for that. Were going to let mayor hancock give us a little demo. There there you go. And you are making a fine cadet. Excellent job. Kind of looked like ed greene, didnt he . Reporter spitting image of ed greene. You can become a member of the elf flight academy. Mayor hancock is now an official cadet. Its all about getting the families excited about the caroling, the fireworks, its a huge boon to the industry. As we all get into the holiday spirit we want you to think locally and enjoy all the city has to offer, and we have a lot to offer. Were a destination during the Holiday Season and we want our locals to enjoy it as well. Reporter i think i know that guy right there. Thats santa. You can come down here and get your picture with santa claus, too, and i showing you i am also a cadet. I need to get fitted for my flight uniform. Lets do this. Put your arms like this. Reporter coming up occasionally it works, occasionally it doesnt. This is really cool. This is all free. Obviously its not quite family, get your picture with santa, and the next big event the big light show downtown denver, starting november 25th at 6 30 p. M. Tons of activities to do. Live in cherry creek mall, jamie leary, cbs4 news. You might be too tall to be an elf. Thanks a lot, appreciate it. You can find out all the details about mile high holidays at cbsdenver. Com. That snow is fake, but it looked real. She rehearse live tv, doesnt work. Its snowing. Im not sure i would ever say that this weekend. Our first snow is usually the 18th of october. About a month behind schedule, better late than never. If you look closely youll see the state flag with all the snow flying in the foreground. 33 the temperature now in downtown denver. It is a lot colder than we have 30s all around the denver, boulder and fort collins areas. Most mountain locations in the 20s and 30s. Look at this remarkable change, 47 degrees colder this hour than it was yesterday at this time in boulder. Just a dramatic change. Rain and snow, depending where youre at. In the denver area, all snow. Out on the western slope heres the next batch, that will be in here for this evening and southern colorado its rain from the springs to web hoe and trip pueblo and trinidad. And down that way it will stay mainly rain. Theres the front, thats the first of two different parts of this storm system. The second is the actual upper level low. Thats producing the snow. It will be out of here as quickly as it arrives. Sunshine will be back tomorrow, sunny and dry through the the high country, i70 corridor. Snow continuing tonight. Denver and front range, heres 6 00 p. M. As we get closer to the drive home later today i think the snow will intensify a little bit. Between 6 00 and 9 00 it will start to taper off. Closer to midnight tonight and certainly by tomorrow morning, this is 6 00 a. M. Tomorrow, the snow is gone, outside of maybe a few renegade snowflakes in the high country. 4to 8 inches of craig. Other mountain areas are under a Winter Weather advisory, including Summit County, 4to 10 inches there. 2to 5 inches in southern wyoming 80 corder. 2to 4 san juans and telluride. How much are we going to see in the metro area . A trace to 2 inches for the denver, boulder and fort collins areas. Similar amounts on the eastern plains. One exception will be along the inches there. Meanwhile, most mountain areas 4 to 10 inches from Steamboat Springs to Rocky Mountain national park, south through winter park, Summit County to vail and aspen. Your forecast, 39 this afternoon. Thats it. I should say, weve already hit 39, thats our high. We already reached the high alan. Well continue to tumble. Tomorrow, 38. Sun is back. Saturday 54. Warmer by sunday, monday, back into the 60s and well watch another system the middle of next week. Thanks ,, wed like you to meet austin, a curly coated retriever mix. Likes to make friends. Visit him inperson at the Dumb Friends League buddy center in castle rock south of the outlet mall. Ask for austin. A consumer alert for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said child booster seats are really protecting kids. Reporter kate perkins will soon need a booster seat for 3 yearold emma who is growing fast. Were going to sit here and when it stops raining well play. Reporter the mom of two has plenty of good options. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reviewed 50 seats and 48 got a things improved a lot since we started evaluating in 2008. Back then only about a quarter of the seats got the rating. Reporter the seats are made for kids who have outgrown their car seats but not big enough to use a seat belt on their own. This is one of our best bet boosters. Reporter why is that . Its that the lap belt is in a good position up at the top of the thighs. Its not riding up on the soft belly. When the lap belt is on the risk for injuries to the abdomen, internal injuries. Reporter only two seats are not recommended, the cosco easy elite and high back. The manufacturer said in a statement they are built to provide children excellent protection in the event of a crash. Perkins says shell do her own homework before shopping. And buying the right seat can make the difference. Weijia arlington, virginia. You can find the full list , . Attention Medicare Beneficiaries living in these. Denver area counties. Call now and let unitedhealthcare help find a plan that may be right for you, like an aarp medicarecomplete plan insured through unitedhealthcare. It can combine medicare parts a and b. Like primary care doctor visits for a low copay. All in one simple plan for a 0 monthly premium. This Medicare Advantage plan offers you routine vision, hearing and foot care coverage. Hearing aids as low as 330 each, saving you thousands. And youll pay the plans lowest prescription price, whether its your copay or the pharmacy price. Open enrollment ends december 7th. Call unitedhealthcare now about an aarp medicarecomplete plan. Tonight a startling report from the u. S. Surgeon general that says nearly 21 million americans suffer from addiction. Thats more than cancer. The actions recommended at 5 00 tonight. Lets go back to ashton. Our first snow of the season is nighing in the flying in the denver area. Its going to continue at times all the way through this evening. Total snowfall up to about 2, area. Then in the mountains 4 to 10 inches. Reached our high of 39 already. Sun comes back tomorrow, but it stays cold. Only 38 tomorrow after a morning low around 18. Brr. I think im hearing muffleed cheers from the ski ,,, . Bill [ exhales sharply ] your turn. R. J. [ chuckles ] ridge that is not how id brooke thats why bill came to my house and not to yours. But if it makes you feel better, r. J. Gave him a hard time. Ridge thats my boy. Brooke dont encourage him. I want the two very special men in my life to get to know each other. Thats why im having them spend the day together. Eric quinn