DENVER — There's nothing like a spring storm in Colorado.
Sure, they happen every year, but it's still always kind of a shock when it's April and the roads are a mess, tree limbs are falling everywhere and the Colorado Rockies get a snow day.
The snow was so heavy that it broke tree branches across the city, blocking roads and causing some power outages. It also partially collapsed one of the tents at the COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Ball Arena.
9NEWS has gotten dozens of photos of downed branches across the city. One of the worst cases was in the video above, where a man shoveling his driveway had a very close call.
9NEWS Meteorologist Cory Reppenhagen spotted this branch blocking the road in Arvada.
And was more where that came from.
One 9NEWS viewer shared video of branches falling and said even her squirrel was like "what the heck?" (the squirrel's name is Bruno ... that feels like an important detail).
Branches fell on cars in Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood.
And the snow made roads difficult, resulting in this shot of a car and patio furniture.
Power outages in Evergreen and Conifer led to the closure of some Jeffco schools.
Denver Parks and Recreation recommends removing heavy, wet snow from branches before they break, and to avoid shaking snow if utility lines are nearby.
Call 311 if the city needs to clear a fallen tree branch.
And, if you need more proof that time is a flat circle, the photos below were taken one year apart, proving that crazy spring storms are actually a constant in Colorado.
Denver Parks & Recreation released the following information that might prove useful on a day like this.
Tips for removing snow from trees:
- Wet heavy snow can weigh down tree branches and cause them to break
- Check to make sure the tree is safe and clear of all utility lines prior to removing snow; DO NOT attempt to shake snow off a tree if a utility line is going through its branches or is within contact distance
- If the tree is clear of utility lines, use a broom to remove as much snow as possible from branches by brushing off or gently shaking. Avoid large, rapid movement as this could cause the limb to break.
- DO NOT attempt to climb tree or use a ladder to remove snow
Downed trees and branches:
- If emergency removal of a fallen tree or tree branch is needed to clear a street, call 311 to report the specific address of the location. The city will evaluate and prioritize the removal of the obstruction, and when necessary, the city will remove the encumbrance, and the cost of the work will be billed to the responsible property owner.
- Property owners are responsible for pruning and cleaning up debris from trees located on private property and within the public right of way adjacent to their property. DO NOT relocate branches to parkways or other public areas.
- Residents can visit www.denvergov.org/forestry for a list of licensed and insured tree care contractors
Disposal of Tree Branches
- Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure collects a limited number of branches as part of its regular extra trash collection service to residents
- Branches must be no larger than 4 inches in diameter, and they must be cut into lengths of 4 feet or less, bundled and tied, and weigh no more than 50 pounds
- Customers may set out up to 10 bundles of branches on their scheduled every-8-week extra trash collection
- Denver residents can also drop off branches at the Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off center located near East Cherry Creek Drive South and South Quebec Street. Hours of operation can be found on the city’s website at www.denvergov.org/recycling.
Downed Power Lines/Cables
- Stay clear of downed lines and report them immediately to Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-1999. If a power line is in contact with any object, stay away and call 911 immediately.
- Anyone who witnesses an emergency that requires an immediate response should always call 911
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