About this snow potential (Denver, Colorado Springs: how much, homes, buying)

[amattaro]

Much ado about nothing or something big? I’m hoping for a big one.

[bluescreen73]

Depends on where you are in the Springs. Right now very early predictions are 1-2 feet for areas north and west of the Springs (Monument, Black Forest, Woodland Park, Green Mountain Falls) with lesser amounts as you go south. If you're somewhere like Fountain or Widefield, it could be 3-6" or less. I wouldn't put a lot of stock in these predictions until tomorrow afternoon or Thursday.

From 7News meteorologist Mike Nelson's twitter feed:

[otowi]

It will be interesting to see what happens. Colorado Springs area can have a steep gradient between areas with high totals and low totals or can be missed all together, or sometimes we just get it all over. I don't mind the snow except that it is on the weekend and I wanted to go outside and do stuff, and I have some crocus bulbs blooming or about to bloom that it will probably ruin for the season.

[dr.frog]

I always found that my crocuses rebounded after a spell of cold/snowy weather. They seem to be very tough, and the snow melts quickly in the sun at this time of year.

[Vision67]

Upcoming Colorado snowstorm called 'high impact,' but forecast riddled with uncertainty

https://gazette.com/news/upcoming-co...6919ffa16.html

"Meteorologists are trying to get a handle on predictions for a "high impact storm" loaded with snow and headed for Colorado's mountains and Front Range later this week.

The storm now is brewing over the Pacific Ocean and is expected to head eastward to dump rain and snow on the state. It starts in Colorado Springs Thursday night and possibly sooner in Denver, said Mark Wankowski, a meteorologist with the National Weather service.

"We're still trying to figure out how this storm is going to evolve," he said Tuesday night.

Storms can change to bring more or less snow than forecast depending on their direction, Wankowski said.

"Look at the forecast if you have travel plans because it will continue to change and evolve," he cautioned.

Some forecast models indicate several feet of snow in areas east of the Continental Divide, Joel Gratz a meteorologist for OpenSnow.com wrote.

But other meteorologists cautioned it was too early in the week to predict accumulation totals for a storm likely to not arrive in the Pikes Peak region until Friday.

KKTV chief meteorologist Brian Bledsoe said Tuesday night he is comfortable making predictions three or four days before a storm's arrival, as long as residents realize the snowfall amounts are subject to change as the event gets closer.

"Forecasting snow here is the toughest thing we do," he said. "But for some of us, this snow could have a very high impact."

Bledsoe currently predicts 12 to 14 inches of snowfall in the northern parts of Colorado Springs, with about 26 inches in Monument and nearly 25 inches in Denver.

“I think the farther north and northwest you live, that’s where we could really see some big totals,” he said.

Slow-moving snowstorms like the one headed for Colorado are fairly common this time of year, Bledsoe said.

"They move slowly, and remain strong," he said. "This is a typical storm for March and April."

Bledsoe said the heavy, wet snow and high winds could mean power failures throughout the city and will likely cause problems on the roadways.

“If you have travel planned, especially north out of Colorado Springs, this is going to be a big problem for you,” he said.

The veteran meteorologist warns residents to monitor credible sources for weather updates, and avoid the panic and hyperbole that can run rampant on social media and other sources.

"When you get measured data, instead of the hype, you're better equipped for what's coming," he said.

A powerful blizzard hit the Front Range in March 2019 and forced schools to close, highways to shutdown and flights to be canceled.

Winds are not expected to be as drastic as 2019's storm but rain and snow are coming, Wankowski said, it's just a matter of how much."

[Brill]

The panic shopping has started. Haven't seen grocery store shelves this empty since covid lockdowns started last year.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Brill

The panic shopping has started. Haven't seen grocery store shelves this empty since covid lockdowns started last year.

We had the same panic buying back in DC, even if only a few inches were forecast; you'd think no one had any milk, bread or eggs in their homes because they stripped the shelves bare. It was a running joke that if snow was in the forecast that the stores would be swamped.

[dr.frog]

When I lived in Boston, folks used to swamp the stores and wipe out the bread and milk stocks in advance of every snow storm, too. It was like people who rarely drank milk felt some insane need to buy a gallon of it anyway. Folks don't seem to do that so much here in Colorado, but it sounds like this storm may be exceptional.

Anyway, I did get my regular weekly grocery pickup order done today, a couple days early, since old habits die hard and I remember the last-minute panic buying from Boston! They were out of a few items I ordered, but that always happens even without an impending blizzard (I just order a little extra stuff and keep extra supplies on hand in the house).

[StcLurker]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

you'd think no one had any milk, bread or eggs in their homes...

I usually call that a "french toast" storm level

[otowi]

I have a feeling it won't amount to too much in much of the Springs, but might be significant for those up at the Palmer Divide.