As the snow picked up again Monday afternoon, February 2, 2016, Deana Heisler, left, and her daughter, Taylor Heisler, broke out their snowshoes for a two mile hike from their home to the Starbucks at the Shops at Briargate. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)
Decreased visibility and blowing snow Monday night caused closures of highways including Highway 24 in both directions from Colorado Springs to Limon, and Interstate 70 in both directions from Denver to the Kansas state line, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Also closed as of 10:45 p.m. were:
Winds on the plains, out of the north, were gusting up to 38 mph, plunging wind chill temperatures to below zero, according to the National Weather Service.
Jack Ladley, an operations manager for the City of Colorado Springs’ Public Works Department, said the snowstorm that continues to dump snow in the Pikes Peak region has not been a common one for the city. He said storms usually segment the city for plow crews, allowing them to focus on smaller areas that see most of the snowfall.
“In this particular storm, it’s just spread out all over,” Ladley said.
City snow crews have been on “full call out” since Sunday afternoon. Ladley said the entire team of 40 plows has been going full steam for more than 24 hours trying to get a grip on the city’s 5,200 miles of snow-covered, slushy, icy streets.
He asked everyone in Colorado Springs to be patient and a plow will eventually hit all areas. He referred to the movie “Groundhog Day,” named for a holiday which aptly is Feb. 2, noting that crews have been focused on primary and secondary arteries since the call out. Once plows get done clearing those roads, they have to go back and do them all over again.
Ladley said he’s heard impatient residents wondering where the plows are.
“I heard one person say, ‘Plows are like unicorns. I heard they exist, but I haven’t seen one,” he said, noting that plows will likely begin clearing residential streets following the afternoon commute.
The operations manager said the early start to the storm over the weekend, helped thin traffic on city roads Monday as many schools, colleges, churches, government offices and military bases announced closures for Monday as early as Sunday afternoon. The first wave of the winter storm dumped three inches or more of snow on the Pikes Peak region overnight. But that was just the start.
Jennifer Stark with the National Weather Service in Pueblo said an additional eight inches of snowfall is possible before things wind down on Tuesday. That would bring total snowfall to around six to 12 inches in Colorado Springs and up to 16 inches in northern El Paso County, around the Palmer Divide, she said.
But it’s not just snow commuters should worry about.
Even after snow clears Tuesday, winds will remain, said KKTV meteorologist Emily Roehler.
“The wind is going to be a real problem,” Roehler said.
Colorado Springs police remained on “cold reporting” for crashes, which means for non-injury fender benders, drivers can file an accident report after the storm has passed. Because of closures and plowing, police reported no major crashes Monday.
On Monday at the Colorado Springs Airport, most flights were running as scheduled, with two flights to Denver canceled. If you’re flying today, check www.flycos.com or www.flydenver.com before you head out.
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 11 a.m. Tuesday, when “we’ll start to see things wind down,” Stark said.
As the snow picked up again Monday afternoon, February 2, 2016, Deana Heisler, left, and her daughter, Taylor Heisler, broke out their snowshoes for a two mile hike from their home to the Starbucks at the Shops at Briargate. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)A snowstorm didn’t keep Ella Illsley and her dad, Dave Illsley, from delivering Girl Scout cookies in their neighborhood on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Ella is with Troop 2821 and sold 150 boxes this year in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazett (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)A snowstorm didn’t keep Ella Illsley and her dad, Dave Illsley, from delivering Girl Scout cookies in their neighborhood on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Ella is with Troop 2821 and sold 150 boxes this year. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazett (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)Because of worsening conditions, the doors of the Salvation Army Warming Shelter were opened an hour early for those who would have to spend the night outside. A line of people line up to get into a warm place to spend the night on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)Because of worsening conditions, the doors of the Salvation Army Warming Shelter were opened an hour early for those who would have to spend the night outside. A line of people line up to get into a warm place to spend the night on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)A snowstorm didn’t keep Girl Scout Troop 2821 from having their annual cookie stand at the Black Forest Store on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Orrin Jones, Ivey Goodwin, Bralyn Jones (left to right) brave the blowing snow and sold about 200 boxes. They’ll be at the same spot for the next six weeks. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazett (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)Air Force Academy firefighers Eric Riffle, left, and Mark Caraway examine damage to a jackknifed semi that had all southbound lanes of I-25 at the Northgate exit blocked for more than an hour Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)The scene of a six car crash on southbound I-25 near the Northgate exit Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Sledders took advantage of a snow day Monday to enjoy a hill at Cottonwood Creek Park in the midst of snow-laden trees Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)Air Force Academy firefighers Eric Riffle, left, and Mark Caraway examine damage to a jackknifed semi that had all southbound lanes of I-25 at the Northgate exit blocked for more than an hour Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)A doe looks out from a thicket of snow covered Gambol Oak during a break in the snowfall in Rockrimmon Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Joe Monfort blows snow from his driveway along Hwy 105 near Sierra Way northeast of Colorado Springs Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)The scene of a six car crash on southbound I-25 near the Northgate exit Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Crows in the snow near Monument Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)A snow plow passes an abandoned car on I-25 near the Greenland exit north of Colorado Springs Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Tri Lakes Battalion Chief Jamey Bumgarner at the scene of a jackknifed semi that had all southbound lanes of I-25 at the Northgate exit blocked for more than an hour Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette (MARK REIS)Steve Cavender keeps on top of keeping the snow cleared on the walkways and bridge at the Bass Pro Shop on Monday, February 1, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette (JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE)
