A winter storm warning is in effect from 5 a.m. Saturday, March 13 until 6 a.m. Monday, March 15 in Douglas County.
Primetime for snow looks to be from around 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday, until 6 a.m. Sunday. During the peak of the storm, expect to see snowfall at rates of one to two inches per hour.
Wind is expected to accompany the snow overnight Saturday into Sunday with velocity of 10 -20 mph, and gusts up to 25 – 30 mph, resulting in blowing/drifting snow, reduced visibility, and difficult if not impossible travel at times, especially east of I-25.
The Douglas County public works operations department is preparing for the storm, and for those who live or work in unincorporated areas of the County (areas not in a town or city) the following is a brief summary of the County’s roadway snow removal plan.
- During a storm, all snow removal equipment is dedicated to high-traffic County roadways to ensure safe passage of emergency vehicles.
- Snow removal on neighborhood streets and cul-de-sacs will begin when the snowstorm concludes.
- Crews work a 24-hour-per-day schedule to remove snow until all County roadways (including neighborhood streets) are open and passable.
Residents in planned communities within unincorporated Douglas County, including Highlands Ranch and Stonegate, are responsible for removing snow and ice from their driveways and the sidewalks in front of their home within 24 hours of the completion of any storm. This is not only a requirement but is a safety consideration for pedestrians — for example, those walking with pets and children walking to and from bus stops and neighborhood schools.
Please keep in mind two additional and important considerations:
- When shoveling driveways and sidewalks, place snow on lawns, not in the street.
- When it snows, please remove vehicles from residential streets to allow safe passage and operation of snow removal equipment.
If you have concerns or a complaint about snow or ice removal in unincorporated areas of Douglas County, please fill out this form and a member of staff will be in contact with you.
For information on snow and ice removal responsibilities on state highways within Douglas County, visit the Colorado Department of Transportation website. For snow and ice removal practices by the incorporated cities and towns in the County, please click the appropriate link for Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Lone Tree or Parker.
In Highlands Ranch, Douglas County is responsible for plowing roads and neighborhoods, while the Highlands Ranch Metro District is responsible for trails, community parking lots and more.