Here in Sterling we got about 2" of moisture, lots of rain with the snow, and not as usual coming in sideways as it did for you guys W of us. We really need the moisture and are greatful to have it. Beef producers near me did fairly well, a loss or 2 but not bad.
I think this storm was great as we desparatly need the moisture and for the most part it didn't blow in too much sideways. There was a little drifting but for the most part it just fell and stuck in place around here. Can't ask for much better than that.
What is a blizzard? Well, I hope the Wyoming guys help me out here as they know and deal with it a lot., It is sustained winds of Well over 35+ MPH for longer than 36-48hours I think, with snow and blowing snow and a good blizzard has visibility reduced to the hood ornament on your vehicle or less. You won't be able to see the little table in your back yard nor the end of your porch railing,-- if it were a true blizzard, the snow would be drifting into the fence line and not stacking up on the table nor the trees as the wind took care of that shit and drifted it elsewhere wind speeds would be 50-60 +. This was just a nice wet Spring weather event with a bit of drifting too.
Until you can't see the end of the porch rail, it is just a good Spring Snow event, Blizzaeds make a mess of things and causes inconvenience and the snow is heavy but full of moisture that we really need.
Now what is a blizzard?
Go up onto Cedar Point NW of Limon, where the Earth gets it's enamas, where you were sent to rescue a family of 4 from Texas by CSP dispatch, that just thought it wasn't that bad and they could make it but got stuck and drove off of the road into the median.
Arrive in your K-30 Chev wrecker truck with a single cab and winch them out, put all 4 of them, as they are cold, their shit no longer runs, so no heater,in the single cab with you, only to discover that Tex. pushed the fan into the radiator and that is going NO place other than on the end of the wrecker.
Spend 2 days and 1 night with these stupid assholes that ran the road closure signs where you tie a piece of para-cord to them when they go out to piss or shit and make sure it is tied right to the children, but not their parents, as they are fools, but keep everything straight and when weather permits, you head to the barn.
Conditions were such that you could not see the front of my wrecker, but I was sent out there to get them, and I did. None of them argued about using the line to go piss or shit. That cab was crowded. We are all still to this day good friends. 2 days and 1 night. Used all of the rations and such that I had and Tex did not bitch about the bill, but I did have the rations on hand, in the truck, ready for a long stay.
Go out, if you are foolish enough, to the Carpenter exit on I-80 East of Chey. when the snow is blowing and check that out, then report back.
I really don't have much to put out other than I am 72 years old, BTDT, many times, and drove snowplows for 30 years and I kind of think that I have been there and done that in Spades and I think the Wyo. guys will back this up on this too.
Maybe you don't know what a real Blizzard is? Let me give you a clue,
Colorado weather can be a real BITCH. and I really don't think you know what you are talking about having come from the NE part of the nation but it can smack you in your ass IF, you don't know what you are doing. Be prepared. I have no problems when the power goes out.
You know more than I. FM