Thursday storm leaves sloppy slush behind

Southern Colorado residents said Thursday’s winter storm was remarkable for the large amount of slush left behind before most of it quickly melted Friday.

Mid-April ground warmth kept Thursday’s snowfall from freezing into ice or accumulating on roads and streets.

However, slush a foot deep or more was messy for drivers and pedestrians during morning rush hour. It forced the closure of the Cave of the Winds tourist attraction in Manitou Springs. The attraction is scheduled to reopen Saturday.

A family from Scotland was disappointed at the unexpected closure.

“(It’s) our 10th wedding anniversary, and (we’re) spend(ing) a few days in Colorado Springs and yesterday we were snowed in,” said Dawn Low. “We couldn’t do very much and wanted to see the Cave of Winds, but we couldn’t see that, either.”

Toni Hansen, of Fort Collins, also had planned to visit Cave of the Winds.

“I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life and I’ve never experienced something like this,” he said. “It’s crazy. It took us three to four hours to get down here last night and it’s usually a two-hour drive.”

The slush also slowed many deliveries.

“It took a little more effort today getting them through,” said Michael Castello. “A little longer, a little more strength, pushing a two-wheel cart with cases of wine, keeping them dry.”

Road and street crews plowed the slush and applied sand for traffic as needed, but the primary strategy was simply to let it melt.