Remembering double snowstorms in Colorado Springs during holiday week 17 years ago

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- While the October 1997 blizzard remains frozen in many residents' minds as arguably the worst in recent memory, also significant were two blizzards that hit the area between Christmas 2006 and New Year's Day 2007.

The first blizzard began on Dec. 20, 2006 and the second arrived Dec. 28 and 29; both were part of storms since dubbed the Colorado Holiday Blizzards that primarily impacted the Front Range and eastern plains.

Among the most serious impacts: Interstate 25 north of Woodmen Road, Woodmen Road east of I-25, U.S. 24 east of Colorado Springs and the city's airport were closed for nearly a week because of heavy snow and ice.

Many grocery stores ran out of perishables such as bread and milk because of high customer demand and the inability to get deliveries.

In the Stetson Hills area on the city's northeast side, snow was so deep that children dug tunnels that were several blocks long.

"I'd never seen snow that deep before," a homeowner said. "You know it's deep when Hummers were getting stuck."

Hundreds of residents reported being trapped in their homes for several days when deep snowdrifts blocked driveways and entrances to subdivisions.

"If I remember correctly, one of those storms hit right at evening rush hour," another resident recalled. "It snarled traffic on North Academy Boulevard and Woodmen. It was taking three to four hours for people to get home."

A KRDO 13 microwave truck was stuck in deep snow for a week, at the intersection of Union Boulevard and Woodmen.

The area received more snow a week after the second blizzard, resulting in snowfall totals of as much as 80 inches for all three storms.

The severe weather led to a declaration of a state disaster, and is widely considered the fourth- to sixth-worst blizzards in Colorado recorded history.