Storm update and Lafayette plowing operations
View City facility closures
Updated March 14 at 6:30am
The Lafayette area received about six inches of snow overnight. Public Works snow plowing operations have been able to keep main streets in decent shape, but side streets are slushy and slick under the newly accumulated snow. State highways are reported in poor condition (Hwy 287 and Hwy 7/Baseline Road). Travel throughout the area is hazardous and residents are advised to stay at home for your safety and to allow snow plow operations to continue. Snow is predicted to continue throughout the morning at about one inch per hour. Public Works crews will continue operations to keep up with the accumulations. The Bob L. Burger Recreation Center has announced it will be closed today (Sunday).
Posted March 12
Public Works snow crews are preparing for this weekend’s anticipated storm. Plan ahead to run errands and gather supplies before the snow starts to avoid traveling during the heaviest snow. Once the snow begins, stay off the roads for your safety and to allow snow operations to progress. The wet, heavy snow predicted may cause possible tree damage, power interruptions, and travel problems. Refer to our March 11 post below for weather resources and preparedness tips. You may want to ensure cell phones are charged in the event of power outages.
Snow accumulation is forecasted to be around 12-24 inches in the urban corridor and may continue through Sunday night. This will require the City to maintain 24-hour plowing operations for a sustained period of time, with work extending into Monday before routes are clear. The primary purpose of snowplowing operations is to clear roads for emergency response providers. This process focuses on primary and secondary routes and does not include neighborhood streets. With these projected snow depths, we anticipate it will take a number of days for crews to clear streets. Keep in mind that snow plowing operations do not remove snow. As the plow makes its way down a street, the snow is pushed aside to clear a path down the middle of the street for vehicle passage. Whenever possible, park vehicles in garages or driveways and not on the street to keep areas clear for snowplows. Due to the large accumulations anticipated, we ask for residents’ patience and understanding that it will take crews some time to clear and maintain the roads during this storm.
Lafayette’s Winter Mobility Plan does include a strategy to address residential side streets in limited situations. The decision to deploy plowing resources to residential streets includes a number of considerations such as 1) emergency vehicle access 2) weather forecasts (warming/melting trends) 3) anticipated road conditions and 4) accumulations of 10 inches or more. If the decision is made to move to this level of service, the City will hire on-call heavy equipment contractors to make one, single-lane pass utilizing backhoes, front end loaders, and/or graders. This operation is not intended to clear the entire street and would not proceed until after the snow has stopped/tapered off. This work will be at a slow pace and will take several days to address all streets.
No determination has been made to address residential streets at this time.
Please continue to visit the City’s website, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates and additional information. We encourage residents to sign up for text/email News Flash notifications .
(Posted March 11, 2021)
Boulder County and the Denver region could be looking at very large snow accumulations this weekend. In the event we receive the forecasted amounts, City officials are asking residents to stay home and ensure you and your household are prepared. Emergency responders are also asking drivers to stay home and off the roads once snowfall begins, and to be sure to make way for emergency vehicles and snow equipment if you do have to be on the road.
- View recommendations to prepare for winter storm hazards at lafayetteco.gov/686/Winter-Storm-Hazards
- Keep up to date on weather forecasts through the National Weather Service – Boulder Office: weather.gov/bou/
- Visit boulderoem.com/ to view updates on emergencies and severe weather from the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management.
- Visit boco911alert.com to receive messages from the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management about emergencies and imminent threats and hazards. You can select multiple ways to be contacted; text, email, landline, cell, and/or work phone.
- View items to consider when assembling a winter car kit lafayetteco.gov/686/Winter-Storm-Hazards
- Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare. It makes sense to be prepared with non-perishable food and plenty of water, snacks, pet food, and other essentials. Have supplies on hand to cover you and your family for up to 72 hours in the event roadways are impassable and you need to stay indoors.
City facility closures and operation hours
Check our website, lafayetteco.gov, for the most up-to-date closure information regarding City facilities. No City facilities have been closed at this time (March 11). All 24-hour City services will maintain regular operating schedules. This includes public safety and emergency responders, and snow response operations.
Snow removal and on-street parking
When possible, please park your vehicle in a garage or driveway to assist the snowplowing operations. Per the City’s Municipal Code, it is the responsibility of property owners to clear any sidewalk open to the public, abutting, adjacent to, or located on your property within 24 hours after the snow event has ended. Shoveling snow into the street is not permitted.
Additional details regarding City snowplow routes can be found at lafayetteco.gov/Snow
Senior snow removal assistance and volunteers
The Senior Services Division pairs volunteers with Lafayette residents needing assistance with snow removal. To take advantage of this service, residents are required to be aged 55+, have a physical or cognitive disability, and hiring someone to perform snow removal would cause financial hardship. Email dinah.pollard@lafayetteco.gov or call 303-665-9052 during regular business hours to sign up for services OR to volunteer your help.
Waste pick up
If you are on the City’s 3-cart waste program, please sign up for customer notifications from Republic Services regarding possible service delays. Republic contact information can be found at lafayetteco.gov/1192 . All other residents may contact your individual hauler directly.
Additional resources