A snowplow driver stops for pedestrians as they cross a snowy street in Manitou Springs on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette) Parker Seibold
A major winter storm that could drop up to four feet of snow in some areas of the state is moving in, and the Colorado Department of Transportation is preparing residents and travelers for likely closures of major highways – including Interstate 25 between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, and I-70 west of Denver, from Golden to the Eisenhower Tunnel – if the snow and winds are as extreme as forecasters predict.
State transportation and safety officials are encouraging drivers to stay off the roads, at least until Friday, after what’s expected to be the storm’s peak Thursday.
A quiet Wednesday morning will give way to some major changes as the biggest storm of the season rolls into southern Colorado, according to KOAA Meteorologist Alan Rose, with snow showers in the mountains and foothills beginning around the lunch hour.
Rain and snow are expected to reach the I-25 corridor by mid to late afternoon, said Rose, describing a storm that will be “packing a punch” and could bring instability and afternoon thunderstorms to the I-25 corridor and Eastern Plains Thursday, as well as dangerous snow squalls in the mountains.
It was semi trucks as far as the eye could see just south of Baptist Rd. on I-25. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. The trucks had been stuck further down the road, but were allowed to convoy as far as Baptist Rd. where this photo was taken about 12:40. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Abandoned cars remain on the side of state highway 94 two days after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ took control of the Front Range and Eastern Plains with high winds, snow, low visibility and icy roads. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Jeffrey Whitehead looks at the remains of his 56-foot mobile home on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Yoder, Colorado. The mobile home was decimated by the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ that wrecked havoc on the Front Range and Eastern Plains. “She’s pregnant so we were getting her checked out and couldn’t make it back home because of the storm,” Whitehead said, referring to his wife Gabby who is due with their third child later this year on July 4th. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Snow drifts show up on the side of a house at the intersection of SH-94 and Yoder Rd., on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Yoder. The snow was caused by the storm aftermath from by the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
An abandoned car sides on the side of the Calhan Hwy., on Friday, March 15, 2019 after being abandoned during the ‘Bomb Cyclone’. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Snow drifts show up on the side of a house at the intersection of SH-94 and Yoder Rd., on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Yoder. The snow was caused by the storm aftermath from by the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Snow drifts show up on the side of a house at the intersection of SH-94 and Yoder Rd., on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Yoder. The snow was caused by the storm aftermath from by the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
An abandoned car remains on the side of state highway 94 two days after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ took control of the Front Range and Eastern Plains with high winds, snow, low visibility and icy roads. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Abandoned cars covered in snow on the side of U.S. 94 two days after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ took control of the Front Range and Eastern Plains with high winds, snow, low visibility and icy roads.
The remains of Jeffrey Whitehead and his family’s 56-foot mobile home on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Yoder, Colorado. The mobile home was decimated by the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ that wrecked havoc on the Front Range and Eastern Plains. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
The remains of Jeffrey Whitehead and his family’s 56-foot mobile home on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Yoder, Colorado. The mobile home was decimated by the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ that wrecked havoc on the Front Range and Eastern Plains. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
The remains of Jeffrey Whitehead and his family’s 56-foot mobile home on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Yoder, Colorado. The mobile home was decimated by the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ that wrecked havoc on the Front Range and Eastern Plains. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
John Hunt looks at the huge tree that landed in his yard on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the Front Range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Colorado Springs Electric works on the power lines on Palmer Park Blvd., on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs following aftermath from the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ that hit the front range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
About 200 people spent the night at the Red Cross Shelter at St. Peter’s School in Monument. After spending the night there, Mary and Cade Coldren (right to left) have their things loaded into the pickup of volunteer Carl Allen outside the school & church on Thursday, March 14, 2019. The Coldrens were marooned in Monument while on their way to Ft. Collins from Lubbock, Texas. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A man skis past the closed onramp to I-25 at Woodmen Rd. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
An SUV maneuvers through abandoned cars on Jackson Creek Pkwy. in Monument on Thursday, March 14, 2019. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
The porch of John Hunt where a huge tree landed in his yard on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the Front Range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
A huge tree lands in the front yard of John Hunt’s home on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the Front Range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
A huge tree lands in the front yard of John Hunt’s home on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the Front Range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
A tree lays in the yard of a home on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the front range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Keith Sparks signals to his friend, Steve Behrends, that his car started. Sparks abandoned his car his car on Jackson Creek Pkwy. during Wednesday’s storm and came back to get it on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Sparks left his car for the night after he wasn’t able to go any further in yesterday’s storm. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Keith Sparks gets help from his friend, Steve Behrends, to dig out his car. Sparks abandoned his car his car on Jackson Creek Pkwy. during Wednesday’s storm and came back to get it on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Sparks left his car for the night after he wasn’t able to go any further in yesterday’s storm. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Keith Sparks signals to his friend, Steve Behrends, that his car was rolling. Sparks abandoned his car his car on Jackson Creek Pkwy. during Wednesday’s storm and came back to get it on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Sparks left his car for the night after he wasn’t able to go any further in yesterday’s storm. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Chris Demastes and his family had started clearing snow in Monument at 2:30 a.m. and will be continuing through late Thursday night. Demastes has a family business called The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region on Thursday, March 14, 2019. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
About 200 people spent the night at the Red Cross Shelter at St. Peter’s School in Monument. A few were still left by afternoon, waiting for tow trucks to go get their cars. Benjamin Kiley (right) makes a call on his phone while Chad Cambronne looks out the window for his tow truck on Thursday, March 14, 2019. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
About 200 people spent the night at the Red Cross Shelter at St. Peter’s School in Monument. After spending the night there, Mary and Cade Coldren (left to right) have their things loaded into the pickup truck of volunteer Carl Allen (back) outside the school & church on Thursday, March 14, 2019. The Coldrens were marooned in Monument while on their way to Ft. Collins from Lubbock, Texas. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation’s George Turic throws limbs from a fallen tree into the bed of a truck on Rangewood Dr. in Colorado Springs, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (Photo by Kelsey Brunner/The Gazette)
Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation’s Kiev Adrassy uses a chainsaw to take apart a tree that had fallen into Rangewood Dr. in Colorado Springs, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (Photo by Kelsey Brunner/The Gazette)
Colorado Springs Park and Recreation employees Kiev Andrassy, left, and Eric Becker clean up a fallen tree on Rangewood Dr. in Colorado Springs, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (Photo by Kelsey Brunner/The Gazette)
A man makes a manmade blizzard with his snowblower in Monument on Thursday, March 14, 2019. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A set of patio furniture at the King Soopers on Baptist Rd. shows the depth of yesterday’s snow on Thursday, March 14, 2019. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A tree lays in the yard of a home on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the front range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Nick Warren shovels out his 74-year-old father’s driveway the day after the bomb cyclone hit in Woodland Park, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (Photo by Kelsey Brunner/The Gazette)
Brad Townley uses his neighbor’s snowblower to clean out his driveway in Woodland Park, Thursday, March 14, 2019. Townley had also cleaned out three other driveways before his own. Because of the volume of snow, he said he started with a shovel and it was much easier to use the snowblower. (Photo by Kelsey Brunner/The Gazette)
A tree lays in the yard of a home on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the front range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
A red SUV drives through an obstacle course of cars on N. Voyage Pkwy. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
John Hunt makes his way between to huge tree roots that left a hole in his yard and tree debris littering around his yard on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the Front Range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Craig Duncan, left, takes down the information of resident John Hunt after a huge tree lands in the front yard of Hunt’s home on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the Front Range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
John Hunt, right, looks outside with his wife Melissa Hunt at huge tree that landed in his yard narrowly missing Melissa’s car by “several inches” on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs after the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ hit the Front Range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
In a neighborhood near Voyager Pkwy. on Rockbridge Circle, a car is nearly buried in a drift. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A CSPD cruiser blocks I-25 north of Woodmen Rd. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
In a neighborhood near Voyager Pkwy. on Rockbridge Circle, a car is nearly buried in a drift. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A CSPD cruiser blocks I-25 north of Woodmen Rd. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Cars are still marooned on Monday morning on the offramp at Woodmen & I-25. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A line of trucks are marooned in the northbound lane of I-25 just south of Woodmen Rd. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Abandoned cars litter the northbound lane of Voyager Pkwy. near Interquest Pkwy. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Abandoned cars litter the northbound lane of Voyager Pkwy. near Interquest Pkwy. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A red SUV drives through an obstacle course of cars on N. Voyage Pkwy. The morning after the bomb cyclone blizzard, people were digging out in the Pikes Peak Region. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A huge tree was uprooted in East Colorado Springs on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs following from the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ that hit the front range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
A huge tree was uprooted in East Colorado Springs on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs following from the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ that hit the front range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
A tree was uprooted and fell on a house in East Colorado Springs on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Colorado Springs following from the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ that hit the front range yesterday. (Photo by Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette).
Rose said snow will pick up in intensity and coverage late Wednesday and into the overnight hours, with as much as 6 to 12 inches of accumulation possible by Thursday morning on the Palmer Divide, Teller County and the mountains.
The worst of the storm for the Pikes Peak region will be on Thursday.
In Colorado Springs, rain is expected to begin later in the day Wednesday, and turn to snow overnight.
Snow totals in Colorado Springs could be the highest of the year, ranging from 8 to 16 inches, Rose said. Between 16 to 26 inches could fall in Monument, he said, while Woodland Park could get 20 to 30 inches of snow.
National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Garberoglio said up to 9 inches of snow could fall in parts of Colorado Springs, with “probably over a foot of snow” falling in surrounding higher elevations, including Black Forest and Monument.
High winds, at their strongest Thursday morning through early afternoon, are expected to lead to especially perilous conditions and low visibility along stretches of interstate including the Monument Hill area north of Colorado Springs.
CDOT officials said I-25 between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs is among the stretches of major highway that likely will have to be closed, if the storm is as bad as predicted.
In Colorado Springs, the city’s “pm snow manager” Chris Howard, said Wednesday afternoon that his crews were poised to hit the streets, as soon as the bad weather provides a cue.
“We have everybody in, and right now we’re just verifying our equipment is ready to go,” Howard said just after 1 p.m., as skies began to darken and temperatures drop.
“Really until we start getting any weather, we’re just kind of on stand-by.”
Howard said that as soon as precipitation begins, crews will begin working on 12-hour shifts to clear city streets.
He echoed the requests of other traffic and safety officials, asking those who can stay off the roads in the coming days to please do so.
If driving is a must, “we like to let everybody know, when there’s ice or snow, please take it slow,” Howard said.
CDOT and state safety officials held a press conference Wednesday morning to prepare the public for the expected major winter storm and major emergency roll-out, especially in the hard-hit Front Range.
Warmer temperatures mean accumulation on roads may happen slowly, but dangerous conditions and impacts to visibility can “precede roadway accumulation” and worsen as the snow rates pick up, as they are expected to, over the course of the day.
Dangers come from the weather itself, as well as drivers ill-prepared for a “significant” late winter storm after a run of spring-like weather, said CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew.
“These March storms can come with unique challenges, as drivers have already started to become accustomed to warmer conditions outside,” Lew said. “A storm like this means we have to shift our perspective back to winter.”
She said CDOT will “do everything we can to keep up with the events and clear the roads,” with an initial focus on interstate corridors.
Safety closures of major stretches of highway in Colorado, including I-25 between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, and I-70 between Golden and the Eisenhower Tunnel, are likely over the course of the storm event, she said.
The state has asked employees who can to work remotely on Thursday, when the storm is expected to be at its most intense.
“We ask travelers to help our first responders by staying off the roads when conditions are at their most intense, driving at lower speeds when necessary, and making sure that you are prepared with proper tires and emergency kits.”
The second week of March is often an especially stormy one in Colorado, with the “biggest, wettest” weather of the year. In 2019, a “bomb cyclone” (plus polar vortex) brought a storm with wind gusts of 96 mph to Colorado Springs.
“We tend to get collective amnesia after the first couple of 60 degree days,” said CDOT Communications Director Matt Inzeo, “but winter reminds us it’s not done yet.”
Pre-treating roads would have been pointless, according to CDOT officials, as the storm is expected to begin with rains that would wash any such efforts away.
Though the storm is expected to have “statewide impacts,” the highest accumulation will be along the Front Range and the mountains, from the foothills to the Continental Divide, said Mike Lorme, director of maintenance and operations for CDOT.
Major roadways expected to be impacted, and likely temporarily closed Thursday, include I-70 west of Denver, to the Eisenhower Tunnel, U.S. 285 between Denver and Conifer, and I-25 between Castle Rock and Monument, with Monument Hill seeing up to 2 feet of snow, and potential “white-out conditions,” Lorme said.
“We are ready as a department (for) anything that Mother Nature throws at us,” Lorme said, noting that his department is at the highest staffing levels it’s seen in “a number of years.”
For the coming storm, he said, the department is “all hands on deck.”
“Crews will be on 12-and-a-half-hour shifts until conditions return to normal,” he said.
He advised drivers to stay off roads for the next 24 to 36 hours, and if travel is a must, to check COtrip.org for updated road conditions and closures before leaving their homes.
“The last thing you want to do is be stuck in an extended delay or closure,” Lorme said. “And that actually draws emergency services from other more important tasks to help stranded motorists.”
Wednesday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. High near 54. North northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday night: Rain showers before midnight, then rain and snow showers between midnight and 5 a.m., then snow showers after 5 a.m. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 29. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Thursday: Patchy blowing snow between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. High near 33. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Thursday night: More snow. Low around 24. North wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Friday: A 50% chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers after noon, mixing with rain after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
