Posted on 12/20/2006 12:59:25 PM PST by george76
A major snowstorm blew across Colorado toward the Plains on Wednesday, canceling hundreds of airline flights for holiday travelers and shutting down major highways in parts of four states.
The National Weather Service posted blizzard warnings for most of eastern Colorado and adjoining sections of Nebraska and Kansas.
A day earlier, the storm had pummeled New Mexico with up to a foot of snow.
Two feet of snow was possible in the foothills just west of Denver, with 2 to 3 feet a possibility farther north.
Up to 20 inches could accumulate on the Plains of eastern Colorado and wind up to 30 mph could pile the snow into high drifts...
"I'm going to grab my computer, talk to my boss and go back home,"... "I'm not going to take a risk and get stuck in Denver."
United Airlines, the busiest carrier at Denver International Airport, canceled more than 630 flights ...
Police closed Interstate 70 for more than 250 miles from just east of Denver to Colby, Kan., and sections of I-80 along a 140-mile stretch from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Big Springs, Neb...
"Crashes are beginning to occur," said Mary Jo Hall of the Nebraska Department of Roads.
Travelers stalled by the closures had already started filling Kansas motels during the morning, said Stan Whitley, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
Truckers were pulling off I-80 at Ogallala, Neb. "Our parking lot is pretty small, but they're just kind of parked off on the streets," said cashier Michelle Krauter at the Sapp Brothers truck stop.
Scores of schools were closed, along with many courthouses in eastern Colorado.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Heh. Four wheeling the peaks is fun in the winter, but it's best done with at least 35-inch tires, extra lift, lockers on demand, chains on all fours (and waterproof personal shells, a case of those little handwarmer bags, camping gear,...). ...and snowboards!
We once unknowingly drove quite a distance along a snowmobile trail. ...couldn't figure out why those snowmobilers were so mad!
Merry Christmas !
Wouldn't be fun today, though. Eeesh ... just had a nasty flashback to the day I got stuck on Rampart Range Road on a bright, sunny December day ... but the wind started blowing hard, and the road got blocked by a couple feet of snow in 30 minutes. We were lucky to get out of there.
That was the day I learned the true meaning of "Mountain Conditions Can Change Rapidly." I'm a lot more careful these days.
Like it or not, Global Warming is definitely happening, although I don't believe Al Gore's version in that it is man made.
I view this as a natural cycle in Climate and it's nothing to be concerned about. After all, Greenland was once so warm that it was Green during the Medieval Warming Period.
My older son was very unhappy that I gave his "fast" circle sled away!
What part of the state do you live? My brother and some friends got lost in a blizzard in northern New Mexico and wound up building a shelter under some big trees in a wilderness area and the tree-huggers tried to get them prosecuted for entering a wilderness area. It didn't matter that they built a fire and cut branches to survive.
Have become quite a weather junkie since living through 3 hurricanes in Florida before moving. The Mets say the cold air is up near the poles just not a sufficent challenge to the re-route the jet stream and dig south far enough to bring any cold air to the eastern half of the country. I think they are calling this plains storm a bit of a cutoff low which as it marches Northeastward will turn to rain. Watch out they say for a rubberband effect and the weather in the East to turn arctic Mid-January. Take it as a little farmers almanac like wisdom but old timers up here in PA say when we have a warm December like this..look out!
I Freepmailed you. We can walk anywhere on the Range without problems and do so for health.
What's the prediction for which day the Durango Herald will come out with a global warming story that will somehow make it seem like the snow is an expected result since global warming is causing catastrophic climate change, blah, blah, blah...?
I grew up in La Plata county when it wasn't quite so lib infested. Sadly, after the great Californication Migration it has changed quite a bit. My jaw dropped the last time I went through Durango (back in May of this year). Couldn't believe the changes in the last few years.
It's good to avoid the tree huggers, though, when we can. It's also good to block their plans in our elected county commissioners' meetings and watch them short-circuit!
LOL Funny,george. I took a few before they left and they said "ENOUGH MOM"!!!
Bad timing here too. We are supposed to be leaving in the morning for Denver (from NJ). It might clear up - in the air East of Denver, but that doesn't mean the roads will be clear for our rental car drive to Cherry Creek.
Just now, the weather channel said that the airport closed down at 2 PM. Gonna be alot of backed-up traffic when it opens! I understand that Friday, a million people are expected to pass thru the airport.
Nice to have a 'white Christmas', but c'mon!!!!
Heh heh heh......I just moved to Utah from Durango CO. Where are you at in La Plata County?
FMCDH(BITS)
Had to be out for medical treatment and the neighbor had to pull me home the last block, due to inadequate global warming.....so I've left the car running.....{;^)
Denver suburb....
I view this as a natural cycle in Climate and it's nothing to be concerned about. After all, Greenland was once so warm that it was Green during the Medieval Warming Period.
****
Some years ago, a distinguished meterologist here locally was asked what he thought about all these greenhouse/global warming/shrinking ozone layer theories. He basically said they were a load of karp -- weather does go in cycles. Around here, we get warm one year, cold the next...soemtimes we go for five or so years with warm winters, followed by five or so years of bitter cold miserable winters. Here, we have also been known to have 70 degrees in the morning and 30 degrees before dark. As a one-time disc jockey said, if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it'll change.
Durango-north main off 32nd. I'm going through Utah on my way to western Wyoming. Weather supposed to be clear but cold. Where are you now living?
Durango-north main off 32nd. I'm going through Utah on my way to western Wyoming. Weather supposed to be clear but cold. Where are you now living?
FMCDH(BITS)
Anyone else remember '97-'98 when the springs was closed for 3 days on either end of the winter? 2 inches at Fort Carson while snow came straight off roofs in Briargate.
Right now, I've got from 0 to 20 inches on the ground, depending on where the drifts are sitting.
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