City shares winter weather preparation ahead of big snow storm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Representatives from the City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County public works divisions, the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management, the National Weather Service Pueblo, and Colorado Springs Utilities held a joint press conference regarding the impending winter weather that is forecast to begin Friday evening.

While a high level of variability remains with this storm system, officials are closely tracking the possible high-impact storm and its potential impact in the Pikes Peak region. It is important for residents to be as prepared as possible.

City officials urge that you stay home if possible, road conditions could be extremely dangerous. With reduced visibility, travel could be difficult, if not impossible.

Jim Reid, the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management Director, says "If you don’t need to be out, we ask that you not be out. But if you have to be out, make sure you have your preparedness kit in your vehicle: blankets, food, water, a way to communicate to folks. That’s really important."

Already, city crews have been treating the roads with a salt brine solution to help with snow and ice removal over the past 24 hours.

Once the snow hits, snowplows will be focusing on priority one roads, the arterials like Woodmen Road, Black Forest Road, and Hodgen Road, then they'll move to clear collector roads and then ultimately neighborhoods.

City leaders urge you not to pass snowplows, since debris and snow that comes off the left side of the blade could obstruct your view of oncoming traffic.

For a full video of the press conference, click here for more details.