Colorado Blizzard

[Grady Clay]

Colorado Blizzard

Santa isn’t going to have any problem landing his sleigh. We are having forecast 2-3 FEET of snow in the next 36 hours with very high winds.

Right now the snow/wind is so great I can’t see 10’ out the window.

Will it head east over the weekend?

Best,
Grady

[Rot 911]

Grady the storm is pushing up north and is not supposed to head east that much. As it is we are having rain today and the high is going to get up around 50 degrees. On the other hand remember 2 weeks ago when we got 18 inches of snow?

[911boost]

Its bad up in here in Fort Collins as well Grady. It was pretty nice yesterday so I was able to get the 911 out and stretch its legs since it won't be going anywhere for a while I think...

Bill

[RANDY P]

thanks to a minor mishap, RANDY P may spend christmas in the Denver airpot instead of Omaha. its a mess.

[911boost]

Uggh, screw that noise Randy. Its not bad out East yet, get a rental car and run from the storm. Thats what I would do. You can hop right on 70 and be in Omaha in 8 hours.

Bill

[RichMink76]

I think I-70 is a mess already.

Rich

[911boost]

Yeah, I just looked on a weather map and it is looking pretty bad.

[Type911]

We have over a foot of fresh powder at 7800 ft elev, just
west of Durango !

Nice to be rid of the brown season, just in time for Xmas

You front rangers take care...

[Hetmann]

I did not drive the 911 today.

[Moneyguy1]

You think you got problems?

We had a FROST last night....Oh God...the pain.......

[Grady Clay]

Yes I-70 is closed from Airpark to Kansas. I-25 is closed south of Pueblo (Exit 94 to New Mexico.) I wouldn’t be surprised if I-25 didn’t close south of Denver. I-76 isn’t closed – yet. I wouldn’t venture there.

No one should be out east of the front range. All the roads Lamar-to-Limon are closed.

I just got home from breakfast. Even the mail truck is stuck at the end of my road. I stopped by the grocery to top things up for the weekend. Unbelievable crowds.

Much of DIA flights are cancelled. No one is in the security lines.

The malls are empty.

The forecasts still are 2-3 feet. The storm apparently is slowing so the snowfall may be greater.

If anyone is stranded, get a room at the hotel at I-25 and Hampden (NE corner) – Four Points By Sheraton
6363 E Hampden Ave,
Denver, CO 80222 (1.45 miles away)
303-758-7000
I just called and they have space.
That is close to me and we can party.

Boy is this going to make Christmas travel a nightmare. Chris’ g/f was to fly to Texas this afternoon, Karen’s Mom is supposed to fly in tomorrow.

Best,
Grady

[Jim Richards]

This reminds me of a Denver-area Christmas-time blizzard back in the early '80's. My brother and his family were driving down from WI to AZ, and only planning on stopping at our house for one night. The blizzard hit that evening and we ended up hosting them for close to a week.

Good luck guys, stay out of the elements, and Merry Christmas!

[pmajka]

This thread is useless without pics!

[Grady Clay]

About all I see outside is white. I suppose I can post some grainy white images

CDOT just closed I-25 NB from Colorado Springs to Castle Rock. I-76 just closed Julesburg to Nebraska.

The media is dubbing this the “Hanukah Blizzard” with the hope it doesn’t last eight? days.

The media is now reporting that traffic is “paralyzed” in many areas. That means not moving. Abandoned cars are going to become a serious issue.

An interesting feature of all this is few realize that a storm like this can actually produce 10’+ of snow and then have days of sub-zero temperatures. Everything will stop for a couple of weeks. That includes emergency services. If someone isn’t prepared or put themselves in harm’s way, this can become deadly.

Best,
Grady

[Moneyguy1]

Having lived through many winters in the Buffalo/Roachester "Lake Effect" area, my heart goes out to you folks up there in the Mile High City. The only bright spot is a week or so from now you may be back up in the low 60's. "Back East" the 60's wouldn't happen until (maybe) late April.

[JavaBrewer]

Dang and I rode my motorcycle to work today thinking 48F was pretty nippy...

Seriously I hope folks out there stay safe.

[madmmac]

Here is the link to the CDOT...my cousin is one of the controllers there. I imagine he is a bit busy today.

http://www.cotrip.org/atis/web.ZoomboxMarshal?device=HAR&Zoombox=0

[coloradoporsche]

Snowing sideways. Here is the school behind my house. Parents are leaving work and picking up thier kids.

[gaijindabe]

Didn't the Donner party start like this?

[911boost]

Yeah, the schools in Fort Collins are closed at 2 pm.

Fun stuff.