AURORA | Gov. Jared Polis has declared a “weather disaster emergency” in advance of predicted heavy snows along the Front Range Friday, following notices of multiple school and government closures.
National Weather Service officials are predicting between 6 inches and 12 inches of new snow beginning tomorrow morning through Friday night.
National Weather Service Forecast
Friday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 32. Light and variable wind becoming north northwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Friday night: The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 28. North northwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
A spokesperson for Polis said the governor is activating the National Guard to mobilize as needed to address weather-related emergencies.
Moving in front of forecasted snow and cold, Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek Schools and the Community College of Aurora all canceled Friday classes. Regis Jesuit High School also announced a snow day.
APS and Cherry Creek also cancelled after school activities and athletics on Thursday and all school and activities for Friday.
All City of Centennial offices will be closed Friday.
Aurora most city facilities will close at noon Friday, or modify hours. Closures include:
- Aurora Center for Active Adults – Closing at 1 p.m. Friday
- Aurora Animal Shelter – Closed to the public Friday
- Aurora Municipal Court – Closing at noon Friday; all afternoon cases will be rescheduled
- Aurora Public Library – All branches closing at 1 p.m. Friday
- Aurora Reservoir – Closing at 11 a.m. Friday
- Expo Community Center – Closed Friday
- Golf Course Pro Shops – Closing at 1 pm. Friday
- Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch – Closing at 11 a.m. Friday
- Plains Conservation Center – Closing at 11 a.m. Friday
- Recreation Centers (Beck, Central, Moorhead, Southeast) – Closing at 1 p.m. Friday
- Recreation Programming – Canceled after 1 p.m. Friday
- Senac Creek Nature Center – Closing at 11 a.m. Friday
- Utah Indoor Pool – Closing at 1 p.m. Friday
All Arapahoe County offices will also close at noon Friday.
Polis said all state employees able to work from home will do so on Friday. State courts officials closed many courts for Friday. Most Arapahoe County combined courts and court-related programs will close at noon.
The school cancellations have an affect on the postseason competition in football and girls volleyball that had been scheduled, though it is initially unclear which will be played and which will be rescheduled.
The Colorado High School Activities Association took steps earlier in the day for the scheduled completion of the state field hockey championship and consolation championship, as it was moved to Monday at All-City Stadium.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
