DENVER (AP) - The Colorado Department of Transportation says they are using 74 snow plows to deal with a storm that's expected to drop more than a foot of snow in some parts of the metro area.

Transportation officials say they plan to keep the plows out overnight when the heaviest snowfall is expected. Snow showers began in Denver late Tuesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service places around the metro area could get up to 16 inches of snow before it's all over Wednesday afternoon. The heaviest snowfall is expected in the foothills, with as many as 20 inches.

Road closures include Interstate 70 between Vail and Vail Pass, eastbound I-70 from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel, and I-70 from Idaho Springs to Genesee.
(COPYRIGHT 2010 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)