Blizzard in Colorado, October 24 to 26, 1997

While blizzards are not uncommon in Colorado, the widespread areal extent of this blizzard was, perhaps a one in 50 year event. A powerful low pressure system moved in from the northwest through Utah, and settled into northern New Mexico. Meantime, arctic air invaded eastern Colorado, setting the stage for high winds, below zero wind chill values, heavy snow, and widespread life threatening conditions. The heavy snow began in the southwest mountains early on Friday morning the 24th. Snow spread across the Eastern San Juan and La Garita Mountains into the San Luis Valley, Upper Arkansas Valley, Wet Mountain Valley, and Sangre de Cristo Mountains through Friday morning. Snow began spreading across the eastern plains by midday Friday. By Friday evening the arctic high pressure and low pressure to the south intensified, and blizzard conditions began in the eastern mountains and across the plains. Blizzard conditions persisted, except for a brief break early Saturday morning, through Saturday night into the extreme eastern plains. The scope and length of blizzard conditions proved fatal for several eastern Coloradans. Three people in El Paso county perished from carbon monoxide poisoning after waiting for help to come in their snowbound vehicles for over 24 hours. Another person froze to death in a vehicle on post at Fort Carson in the Colorado Springs area. An elderly women in Otero county tried to walk home after her vehicle became stuck in open country. She froze to death. A man in Bent county froze to death in open country while hunting, or looking for other hunters. Another man died in a vehicle accident in Pueblo during the blizzard Friday night. Two people were injured in Colorado Springs when a canopy at a gas station collapsed under the weight of deep snow on top. Another canopy at a gas station in Lamar collapsed, but noone was injured. A vehicle was destroyed, though. Thousands of people were stranded in eastern Colorado, and hundreds had to be rescued from their snowbound vehicles. By Saturday, the Governor declared a State of Emergency. Emergency traffic only was allowed on eastern Colorado roadways. Rescues were made by the U.S. Army in Humvees and by helicopter, the National Guard, law enforcement, other public resources, and private citizens. The combination of high wind and heavy snow caused power lines to come down. Power outages occurred (and lasted up to two days) in many parts of the area, most notably in parts of Colorado Springs, in and around Pueblo, and in southeast Colorado from McClave in Bent county to Holly in Prowers county. Hundreds of businesses and stores were closed throughout much of the weekend, and temporary sales and production loses were in the millions of dollars. Many school districts were closed for a part, or all of the following week, as the digging out process continued. Extra costs for snow removel in both the private and public sector from overtime wages certainly ran into the millions of dollars areawide. Not only did humans suffer, but there was a widespread die off of range cattle. Estimates of around 20,000 dead cattle and calves were given. Untold numbers were saved by hay drops carried out by the Army and National Guard. Removal of dead cattle and feeding of remaining cattle cost millions of dollars. Snow amounts with the blizzard were impressive. One to two feet fell in the Eastern San Juan, La Garita, and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. However, the San Luis Valley received only a few inches of snow. The Upper Arkansas Valley had six to 12 inches of snow. Generally between one and two feet fell from the Rampart Range and southern Colorado Springs, south through Pueblo, down to Trinidad, and throughout the southeast Plains. However, parts of the Wet Mountains, Beulah, Walsenburg, and some areas around La Junta had around three feet of snow. From northern Colorado Springs to the Palmer Divide, amounts were excessive. In northern Colorado Springs as much as three feet of snow fell. In the Black Forest and Monument three to four foot amounts were the norm. At Palmer Lake, on the Palmer Divide, 52 inches of snow was reported. The deep snow was blown and piled into drifts anywhere between three and 15 feet deep.