Thousands of residents in Colorado experienced power outages as authorities took the decision to close highways and schools amidst a winter storm that battered the Denver area. The storm posed the threat of dropping another half a foot of snow overnight into Friday.
Snowstorm Led to the Closure of Highways
This storm coincided with severe weather in other parts of the country. Kansas and Missouri witnessed enormous hailstones on Wednesday night, along with probable tornadoes in Kansas.
Meanwhile, earlier in the month, a blizzard blanketed a northern California ski resort with over 10 feet of snow.
The winter storm in Colorado led to the closuring of a part of Interstate 70, the state's main east-west highway in the mountains, leaving some drivers stranded for hours due to stuck trucks blocking the road.
Authorities decided to restrict truck traffic on this highway section until noon on Friday to maintain its accessibility.
Various routes experienced blockages or delays due to accidents, stuck vehicles, and other complications.
The storm, commencing on Wednesday night, brought typical March snowfall, wet and slushy, particularly impacting the Front Range region where most of Colorado's population resides.
The foothills west of Denver witnessed the heaviest accumulations, with up to 3 feet of snow by Thursday and another foot expected by Friday morning.
Denver itself received around 9 inches of snow by Thursday, with an additional 3 to 7 inches anticipated by Friday morning.
Difficulties Encountered During the Snowstorm
Despite benefiting Colorado's ski industry, the severe conditions forced several ski resorts to shut down. Many schools and government offices closed on Thursday, with Denver area schools preemptively closing for Friday.
Late Thursday, more than 18,800 customers were without power, primarily in metro Denver and along the Front Range.
While some residents like Melanie Brooks lamented missing out on a powder day in the mountains due to difficult driving circumstances, others like Jarmila Schultz embraced the snow in spite of the inconvenience.
Denver International Airport remained operational but encountered important flight cancellations and delays on Thursday, with 830 flights canceled and nearly 440 delayed, according to Flightaware.com.
Day 1 of Colorado Snowstorm
A significant winter storm is currently affecting Colorado, particularly the cities of Denver and Boulder, potentially being the most impactful in three years.
While it is not projected to reach the severity of the 2021 storm, Denver could still receive up to twelve inches of snow, with Boulder possibly experiencing even greater amounts.
The Rocky Mountains are anticipated to accumulate multiple feet of snow, leading to disruptions in travel along major highways.
The storm has prompted warnings of challenging travel conditions and closures of schools. Concerns arise over potential tree damage and power outages due to heavy, wet snow.
Snowfall began in Utah before spreading into Colorado, and the storm is expected to persist until Friday. Winter storm warnings are in place across six states, with snowfall forecasts varying depending on elevation.
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