Shawn
719-264-7777
Coming Soon To A School Near You…A Snow Day!
Winter is here!
This was the view of Pikes Peak yesterday as I dropped my son off at CSCS for his delayed start. This was the first day this year that we have have the delayed start. As I was on my way home, I was reminded of the exact reason that we have this program in our area. Two cars had been going too fast on the ice near Discovery Canyon School and collided, serving as a reminder to other drivers to just take it slow.
What about closures?
In Colorado Springs, winter snows are just a fact of life. Schools do not want to close unless they really have to. They do build a few snow days into the yearly calendar but if those get used early in the season, kids may have to extend their school year to make up the lost days. My son’s school has an online program to keep kids current with their work in case of a snow day. He hates this idea since it keeps him from having what he calls a “real” snow day but I think it is a great idea. The kids have to log onto the system and then do their work for the day and turn it in when they return to school.
How do you know when there is a delay or closure?
We usually know the night before a storm comes in if it is going to have an impact on school times. I try to set my alarm for 6 am or just a bit earlier so I can find out the latest school news. Every TV station will have the school and employer updates on the crawler on the screen. If there is a 2 hour delayed start, I can roll back over and sleep for another hour. If there is a total cancellation, I usually hear the grateful yell of my son who has just heard the news himself followed by a few more hours of quiet. Many school websites also have delay and closing info but the TV news system is the simplest for me.
What about winter driving?
You have to remember, I am a native of Colorado Springs so winter driving is not an issue for me. If you are planning an upcoming move to Colorado Springs, you will want to think ahead. Owning a four wheel drive vehicle is a big help in our area. We have up to ten inches of snow coming in the next few days to the northern part of the city. If I did not have my four wheel drive, it could be difficult to get out of my neighborhood. Once I am on the main streets and the highway, I have no problems. The major roads are plowed right away and also treated with a de-icing chemical. If you are in the market for a new car in your current city, do not buy a two wheel drive SUV! It will be useless here in Colorado Springs! The resale value will be so low since nobody wants that kind of vehicle here. I suggest trading your two wheel drive truck or SUV before you get here–you will thank me for this later!
How long will it last?
Our snow season will run from mid-October through the end of April. Remember, we live here at 7000 feet above sea level and Pikes Peak is right out our front door! The benefit to all of this snow is that we usually have plenty of water. Our water tastes great right out of the tap. Very few people buy water in this area. That would seem crazy! Our water comes right off Pikes Peak and is cold and clear. You will love it!
If you are thinking of a move to Colorado Springs in the future, contact me or leave a comment below. I am a native of the area and can tell you which areas get more snow than others! My area, Flying Horse Ranch, gets plenty but I love it! Hopefully you will adapt to the snow and love it too!