BLOG: Heavy snow brings the Front Range to a standstill

A winter storm is moving through southern Colorado with snow has closed most schools and snarled traffic across the Front Range. Roads are slick across the Pikes Peak Region due to a layer of ice beneath the snow. Be prepared for the potential to slip and slide in your neighborhood before hitting treated city, county and state roads. Snow will start to fall south of Colorado Springs this morning.

News5 and the First Alert 5 Weather Team have you covered on-air, online and on social media for all the information you need on storm conditions, road conditions, any closures and delays, and what you need to know before you head out the door.

12:00 p.m.

The weather is beginning to have an impact on operations on the Colorado Springs Airport. A check of the flight status board shows 11 flights delayed. The planes owned by United, American and Delta are coming from points across the United States. Check flight status before you head to the airport.

LINKS:
flydenver.com/
coloradosprings.gov/flycos

11:00 a.m.

According to Colorado State Patrol out of Florence, a semi truck driver is charged with "knowingly and recklessly" obstructing a highway after he tried to squeeze by a stuck semi on Highway 50. The photos show the flatbed truck hauling fencing almost in the middle of the road. State Patrol says the truck did not have chains or any other adequate traction measures.

The driver of the rig hauling a box trailer attempted to pass on the right, but became wedged between the flatbed and the guardrail. This truck also did not have chains or any other adequate traction measures.

As a result, Highway west of Cañon City was closed for an extended period of time this morning.

10:50 a.m.

Snow has been falling since last night and will continue to fall through the morning hours. Early commutes are slickest in Pueblo, Fremont, El Paso, and Teller Counties this morning.

Temperatures will stay at or well below freezing through the region all day today, meaning any roads that see snow will stay snow or ice covered until CDOT can treat the road.

Find a full list of closures and delays here: School Closings & Delays

10:41 a.m.

The commercial vehicle chain law is now lifted on I-70 eastbound between mile marker 205 and 213.

9:14 a.m.

CDOT has reopened northbound I-25 after ice cleanup from Monument to the Greenland exit.

8:50 a.m.

8:46 a.m.

All of northbound I-25 CLOSED from Monument to the Greenland exit to allow crews to remove ice accumulated on the road. CDOT recommends using an alternate route, which is Highway 105 to the west and Highway 83 to the east.

8:45 a.m.

The Pikes Peak Library District has closed all facilities for the day.

7:48 a.m.

Still thinking about leaving for work, school, an appointment or otherwise? Think twice. From our view out the windows of our Rockrimmon studios we can see people stuck on hills and heavy snow falling across Colorado Springs.

7:40 a.m.

CDOT has closed Exit 214A for the I-25 to I-70 ramp due to emergency roadwork.

6:02 a.m.

CDOT is asking drivers to delay their morning commutes because roads are "slick and treacherous."

5:40 a.m.

Due to winter weather, Mountain Metro Transit bus service in Colorado Springs will not begin until 10 a.m. The City of Colorado Springs offices will not open until 10 a.m. as well.

5:12 a.m.

In Denver there's a big mess on I-225. A multi-car crash just after Parker Rd has traffic backed up for miles.

4:35 a.m.

If you have travel plans in the coming days be sure to check your flight status. We're seeing several delays out of the Colorado Springs Airport and Denver. At Denver International Airport, more than 500 flights have been delayed because of this storm and at least 41 canceled.

LINKS:
flydenver.com/
coloradosprings.gov/flycos

4:31 a.m.

Colorado State Patrol in Pueblo warns everyone in Southern Colorado "there is a sheet of ice on all roadways in southern Colorado this morning. If you have to drive, do it slowly and give yourself plenty of time and distance."

The following agencies are on Accident Alert Status this morning Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Springs Police, Fountain Police, and the Teller County Sheriff's Office. If you are involved in a minor fender bender, there doesn't appear to be alcohol or drugs involved and it's not involving public property, you can exchange information and file a report online at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dmv/report-accident.

4:03 a.m.

News5's Jessica Barreto and Caiti Blase are on the road reporting conditions as our veteran photographers do the driving. We'll check in with them throughout News5 Today on our social channels. Caiti will be in the northern portions of El Paso County while Jessica checks out conditions between Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

3:46 a.m.

Passenger vehicle traction laws remain in effect for:

• I-70 Westbound / Eastbound between Vail and Copper Mountain (Milemarker 178-195)Passenger vehicles are required to have snow or mud/snow tires, use chains/alternative traction devices, or be a 4WD/AWD vehicle.

• I-70 Westbound / Eastbound between Silverthorne and Denver/C-470 (Milemarker 205-259)Passenger vehicles are required to have snow or mud/snow tires, use chains/alternative traction devices, or be a 4WD/AWD vehicle.

Commercial vehicle tractions laws remain in effect for:

• I-70 Eastbound Vail to Vail Pass Summit (Milemarker 178-190)Chains or alternative traction devices (ATDs) required for all CMV, including buses and vans of 16+ capacity. EB CMVs – There is no truck parking east of Milepost 133 or in Vail Valley. Trucks waiting out the chain law should not proceed past Dotsero – exit 133.

Visit COTrip.org for more information

3:39 a.m.

3:30 a.m.
The following school districts and military facilities have updated to CLOSED: UPDATES HERE - School Closings & Delays

Colorado Springs D-11 - Closed
Cheyenne Mountain Dist. 12 - Closed
Cripple Creek-Victor - 2 Hours Late
District 49 - Closed. FHS will not hold E-Learning day Monday.
Ellicott 22 - 2 Hours Late. No EPCA or PPCC.
Fountain-Ft. Carson Dist. 8 - Closed
Harrison Dist. 2 - Closed
Widefield 3 - Closed

Private and Charter Schools
Thomas MacLaren School
Pikes Peak BOCES and SOE - Closed
CEC Colorado Springs - Closed
Corpus Christi Catholic School - Closed
CIVA Charter School - Closed
Banning Lewis Acad. - Closed
EC Colorado Springs - 2 Hours Late. No Falcon bus service.
James Irwin Charter Schools - Closed. All Campuses
Pikes Peak Christian School - 10AM Delayed Start
Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning - Closed
The Vanguard School - Closed

Military Bases

Cheyenne Mtn Air Force Station - Delayed Reporting: Non-mission essential report no earlier than 9:30 a.m.
Peterson Air Force Base - Peterson AFB Delayed Reporting: Non-mission essential report no earlier than 9:30 a.m.
Schriever Air Force Base - Delayed reporting: non-mission essential personnel report no earlier than 9:30 a.m.
Fort Carson - FORT CARSON IS CURRENTLY ON A 2-HOUR DELAY FOR OCT. 28, 2019. Fort Carson non-mission essential military personnel will be in a delayed reporting status with a first report time of 9:30 a.m. Civilian employees in non-mission essential positions will report 2 hours past their normal report time to allow for safe travel from their residence. Please contact your first line supervisor with any questions, and continue to follow Fort Carson platforms for updates.

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