Surviving the Blizzard of '16

Tuesday night after work I went for a bike ride in shorts and a light jacket and the temperature was near 70 degrees. That morning when I was driving into work at 6:00 it was already 52 degrees and the wind was strong from the south. I noticed that the barometer was also pretty low and still falling. For March in Denver that combination should give pause and the meteorologists were already hyping up the approaching storm slated for the next day.

Pinnacol has a dedicated team of folks who assemble when the weather looks to turn bad who have the hair-pulling job of deciding whether to close for the day. They are usually about their work around 4:30 in the morning and yesterday was no exception. There are at least six people involved with the decision and they live around the metro area. As they phone conferenced the weather was being typically uncooperative. A couple of folks were reporting rain at their location and others indicated they were receiving just light snow. Didn't seem that bad and nothing like the blizzard conditions that were forecast. The initial signal to employees was for a delayed start but as the storm intensified the word quickly went out that yes indeed we would be closed for the day. By that time anyone looking out their window at the snow blowing horizontally in the howling winds would have agreed with, and been thankful for, that smart decision.

Heavy Equipment clearing snow in 2006

If you've been in Denver for any length of time you can probably rattle off the major Denver blizzards you've been through (dare I use the term "survived"?). The Christmas blizzard of 1984 is the first I can truly remember and it too had started out with unseasonably warm weather before smacking the town with so much snow they had to get out front-end loaders rather than plows to clear the major roads. Back then the wisdom was to let mother nature take its course and allow the snow to melt from the streets and that decision ended up costing a Denver Mayor his job come the next election. Blizzards tend to bring us together as a community as we collectively share the experience of watching what nature can do. For those new to Denver the blizzard of '16 will likely be what the blizzard of '84 was for my family. Fondly or not so fondly, years from now you'll likely remember yesterday's maelstrom. Of course yesterday's event was no worse than others that preceded it or others yet to come.

Pinnacol's offices this morning

I think Denver is at its prettiest after a major snowstorm and this morning was no exception. Those famously blue Colorado skies and a morning sun glinting off the still pristine snow made a challenging commute that much more tolerable and reminded me once again why I make this place my home. I take Colorado Blvd. as part of my route to work and looking to the west at the City of Brest Park (Cherry Creek Drive South & Colorado Blvd.) the snow covered trees were absolutely breathtaking. I don't think too many of my fellow commuters took advantage of the sight though and mores the pity but I can't blame them for their white-knuckled focus on the road in front of them. Our office building too looks nice under a mantle of freshly fallen snow and it was nice to arrive safe and sound. I had an 8:00 interview scheduled and kudos to the candidate for his efforts to make it in through some challenging driving conditions.

By this afternoon the roads will hopefully have improved, the snow will take on a brownish tinge, and the drive home will likely be a slush fest. By tomorrow yesterday's blizzard will be just another memory. The good news? There's another storm forecast for Saturday!