Live weather blog: Schools begin calling off Friday classes, roads remain closed
Snow and cold temperatures have shut down several roads, forced the closure of nearly all schools and military installations, and affected flight schedules at the Colorado Springs Airport on Thursday.
With snow continuing Thursday and a forecast for more, some schools in the Colorado Springs have started calling off Friday classes.
Interstate 25 southbound is closed from Pueblo to the New Mexico Border, and Mountain Metro buses have stopped service.
The National Weather Service in Pueblo is forecasting 2-4 more inches of accumulation likely into the afternoon, with heavy snow along and east of I-25.
- Click or tap here for CDOT updates on the latest road conditions.
- Click or tap here for updates on school closures.
-The City of Manitou Springs administrative, elected administrative offices and facilities will close at 2:30 p.m. City offices will open Friday at normal business hours, weather permitting.
-City of Colorado Springs administrative offices closed at noon.
-National Weather Service Pueblo anticipates another inch or so to accumulate before nightfall in Colorado Springs, with snow picking back up Friday afternoon.
-Slushy conditions on the roads can be expected as temperatures start to rise slightly above freezing in the afternoon. Travelers should see roads ice over as the sun sets this evening.
Noon update
-Multiple downtown businesses are closed due to weather today.
- The Colorado Springs Police Department remains on Cold Accident Reporting status since Tuesday, meaning minor accidents with no injuries or damage can be reported online. More on the criteria can be found here.
- The National Weather Service is reporting 24-hour snowfall totals up to 11 inches in parts of Colorado Springs and more than 17 in Black Forest. More here
-COS Operations and Maintenance: snow plows are out clearing primary and secondary roads, focusing on keeping one lane clear. Manager Corey Farkas urging caution for first large snow event of the year as more accumulation expected tomorrow:
"We have people moving into the city all the time who maybe have never driven in snow, so we always expect there to be some issues during the first snow that are out of our control," he said at a press conference Thursday.
-The National Weather Service is reporting wet and slushy conditions on I-25 as temps rise into the 30s today. 1-3 inches of snow still expected this afternoon.
Most arrivals and departures before 11 a.m. were delayed at the COS airport. Click or tap here for the updates from the airport.
- southbound I-25 is closed from Pueblo to the New Mexico border. The closure begins at exit 91 south of the city. CDOT says to expect long detours and long delays.
- Because of weather conditions, Mountain Metropolitan Transit bus service will stop running buses at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a news release from Mountain Metro. Multiple routes have already had to be shut down due to stuck buses earlier Thursday morning. Metro Mobility ADA Paratransit service will continue to operate for essential trips only, according to the news release.
On the roads, impacted areas include Interstate 25 south of Denver to New Mexico, including Monument Hill, with particularly heavy snow over the Raton Mesa at the Colorado-New Mexico state line, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Eastern Colorado along Interstate 70 to Kansas will continue to have high winds, snow and adverse conditions, according to the National Weather Service and CDOT.
Road closures :
I-25 Southbound only from Pueblo to the New Mexico State Line
I-70 Eastbound Airpark to Limon
US 24 Eastbound/Westbound Calhan to Limon
US 36 Eastbound Byers to Last Chance
US 36 Eastbound/Westbound Last Chance to Kansas State line
US 40 Eastbound/Westbound Limon to Hugo
CO 59 Northbound/Southbound Haxtun to Kit Carson
CO 71 Northbound/Southbound Last Chance to Punkin Center
CO 86 Eastbound/Westbound Kiowa to I-70
CO 94 Eastbound/Westbound El Paso County line to US 40/287 Junction
US 160 Eastbound/Westbound CO 350 Junction to CO 389 Junction
CO 389 Northbound/Southbound New Mexico State border to US 160 Junction
CO 109 Northbound/Southbound La junta to Kim
