Spring Blizzard Hits Colorado

Colorado is getting bombarded with blizzard conditions in what appears to be winter's final show. If you live in Colorado, you know that this year we are lacking in snowfall. It has been one of the more mild winters that Colorado residents have experienced for the 2008/2009 season.

Today, we are hunkered down for what the weather reporters are forecasting as a "Springtime Blizzard". Across the mountains into Woodland Park and beyond, they are expecting up to 2 feet of snow between today and tomorrow. For those folks in the higher elevations, everything is closed. Schools have already announced closures into tomorrow. Businesses and Government offices are closed as well.

Down in Colorado Springs, and along the I-25 Corridor, snowfall is expected to be anywhere from 3 to 7 inches before it slows down late tomorrow. Businesses, schools and the El Paso County Government closed at noon today and are expected to be closed as well through tomorrow. Grocery stores are experiencing record shoppers, with people anticipating the worst.

It appeared that the Front Range anticipated white out conditions as well as huge amounts of snowfall on the highways. They had the snow plows out in force with over 40 trucks just in the Colorado Springs area. Sanding and plowing as many roads as possible before rush hour traffic.

In the area I live in, there were numerous plows up and down the freeway, trying to get things cleared to lessen the chances of multiple accidents occuring.

In many places in this area of the Front Range, cars have already been stranded. There are also areas that are impossible for cars or trucks to access because of the time involved getting sand trucks to all areas that need sand. The many hills here in the Springs offer huge challenges to drivers as they work their way through the city.

Blowing snow and low visibility offer little comfort to drivers trying to make their way through Colorado. Shelters in the Monument area have already started offering travelers a place to stop and wait the storm out. The Monument area does not have hotel services and has been known to cause many stranded motorists to be in danger when trapped between Colorado Springs and Denver.

As the fierce storm moves across the mountains and into the Plains of Kansas, I-70 and I-25 are expected to close. As the night and the danger of darkness and ice on the road increases the potential for people to get injured the Highway Patrol will be on high alert as well as local Law Enforcement.

Local shelters are gearing up to help get the homeless inside and out of the frigid temperatures. Churches and normal shelter locations are expected to house many of the less fortunate across the Front Range.

The weather is not expected to change much overnight in Colorado and along the Front Range. When the storm works it way out of Colorado into Kansas tomorrow, it will still be carrying much precipitation with it.

Colorado is anticipating rain and snow for several more days with less accumulation than today and tomorrow.
Even though the weather doesn't paralyze this area, it does create many hazards for lots of people.

Colorado can always use the precipitation, but hesitates when it is a storm of this magnitude. Colorado will be digging out for several days, as the pictures will show.