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Governor activates Colorado National Guard to assist with blizzard response

This is the second time in a month the Colorado National Guard has been asked to help motorists stranded by blizzards.

DENVER — For the second time in a month, Gov. Jared Polis has activated the Colorado National Guard to help motorists stranded by a blizzard that’s expected to impact much of the state.

According to the Colorado National Guard, 50 soldiers from multiple units – including four small-unit support vehicle teams – will be dispersed at readiness centers along the Interstate 25 corridor from Longmont to Colorado Springs.

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The Colorado National Guard said in a release that it will also utilize light medium tactical vehicles and heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks.

Law enforcement agencies throughout Colorado — including Colorado State Patrol — have pleaded for drivers to stay off the roads Wednesday night. 

Back in March, the Colorado National Guard was called to help motorists stranded by a “historic” bomb cyclone that left hundreds of cars stranded on major highways, which were virtually impassable due to a large amount of snow in a short period of time.

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The storm that will impact Colorado Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning has hit “bomb cyclone” status in Kansas. It was accompanied by a 50-degree temperature drop for much of the state, which experienced nearly 80-degree temperatures just a day before.

Visibility during this storm is not expected to deteriorate until the evening commute, according to the National Weather Service.

This storm will be very intense over the Eastern Plains of Colorado tonight and Thursday morning. Many roads may be dangerous to travel on during that time.

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