Groundhog Day 2022, Greenhorn-valley-style saw some impressive amounts of long-awaited snow blanketing the area.
Residents woke to snow with more coming down. Fortunately, School District 70 had listened to the weather forecast and canceled school the evening before, reducing traffic on the snowpacked and slick roads.
Snow continued to fall throughout the day resulting in several businesses closing early with many making plans to close on February 3 as well. School District 70 first sent word that on Thursday, February 3, there would be a two-hour delay. They soon updated the bulletin to say, “After evaluating current road conditions this evening and reviewing the latest forecast wind chill conditions for tomorrow morning, ALL District 70 schools will be closed Thursday, February 3rd. There is no remote learning.”
Northbound I-25 was briefly closed from Colorado City to Pueblo.
Neighborhoods were busy Thursday, as many homeowners who had work canceled cleared the snow away from sidewalks and drive ways. Privately owned plowing services as well as Pueblo County and CDOT plows were kept busy as the snow ended.
According to the National Weather Service, when the storm moved out, Rye was reported to have 12.2 inches of snow; Beulah 9.5; Colorado City 10; and Pueblo 3-6.
More localized, unofficial reports came in as:
Colorado City near the lake –11 inches; Woodland Acres in Rye-12 inches; Southwest of Rye- 13 inches; East Hatchet Ranch area- 6 inches; West Hatchet Ranch area- 11 inches; Greenhorn Trailhead 15 inches; Lake Isabel- 12 inches.
While snow amounts climbed up, temperatures dropped. The United States National Weather Service reported Colorado City having a low of –12, Beulah –15, Walsenburg –14, and Westcliffe-13.
This storm moved out on Thursday allowing the sun to brighten things up, although temperatures have remained chilly. Another surprise storm dropped considerably less and widely varying amounts on the area during the early Sunday morning hours.