MONTROSE, Colo. – Work to restore wild rainbow trout in the Gunnison Gorge is starting to pay off as the population of the species is slowly increasing, according to surveys conducted recently by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. CPW biologists are hopeful that the success on the Gunnison will eventually help bring wild rainbows back to all Colorado’s rivers and streams.
Rainbow trout once dominated the renowned Gunnison River; but in 1994 CPW biologists found fish there infected with whirling disease and their population drifted toward zero. Brown trout, which are much more resistant to whirling disease, quickly took over and now are the dominant fish in the gorge and many other Colorado streams. Whirling disease infected streams and rivers throughout the state and imperiled rainbow trout populations.
The most significant observation from the Gunnison survey completed in October showed an abundance of “young of the year” fish that hatched in mid-summer and that showed no symptoms of whirling disease.
A tiny rainbow trout fry is giving CPW biologists hope that wild fish are reproducing naturally in the Gunnison River Gorge and that will eventually help to restore wild rainbows to rivers throughout the state.
“We found the highest number of rainbow fry we’ve ever seen since the 1990s and they were spread over multiple sites in the canyon,” said Eric Gardunio, aquatic biologist for CPW in Montrose. “We’re seeing natural reproduction throughout the canyon and survival of wild fish in the life stage where they can be affected by whirling disease. It’s very encouraging.”
For adult fish, the survey found 630 rainbow trout per mile in the survey sections. That’s significantly fewer than the 1,500-2,000 rainbows found per mile in the days before whirling disease; but improvement from the last few years is evident. In 2014, surveys found just 173 fish per mile; 489 fish per mile in 2016; and 522 fish per mile in 2017.
By comparison, brown trout now number about 5,000 fish per mile.
“It’s a very healthy river, but for rainbows we have a long way to go before we’ll be comfortable saying they are fully recovered,” Gardunio said.
CPW continues to stock whirling-disease resistant rainbows in that section of the Gunnison and at other rivers throughout the state.
The recovery plan for the fish started tentatively in 2003 when CPW obtained a whirling-disease resistant strain of rainbows from a hatchery in Germany. The fish, however, had been hatchery-raised for decades and were “domesticated”, meaning they had no experience in the wild. CPW researchers crossed the spawn of these fish, known as Hofers, with several other strains of rainbow trout. The crosses showed significant resistance to whirling disease and exhibited a “flight response” when placed in reservoirs.
In the spring of 2007, biologists started stocking the Hofer-cross fry in rivers and reservoirs statewide. Results were mixed throughout the state, but biologists found that the new strains did best in the East Portal section of the Gunnison River where CPW had, for many years, spawned wild trout to supply state hatcheries. That spot continues to be a productive area and rainbows are spawned there every year. They’ve even been given their own name – Gunnison River Rainbows.
Finding the young wild fish downstream in the Gunnison Gorge provides another encouraging sign that the 20-year journey to recover rainbow trout has been worth the effort. The abundance of brown trout, predators that feast on small fish, are perhaps the biggest challenge in the Gunnison and other rivers.
“The wild fry are the best thing for us to see down there,” Gardunio said. “As those fish grow into adults we’ll have more and more fish and hopefully, a self-sustaining population. We hope to see a continuing gradual increase.”
And if they thrive in the Gunnison, biologists are confident they’ll eventually take hold in big rivers throughout the state.
By Courtney Spamer, AccuWeather meteorologist – Updated Dec. 24, 2019 8:50 AM
Yet another storm will target Southern California through Christmas, allowing wet weather to linger into the busiest travel day left in 2019.
The storm will spread rain across the San Francisco Bay Area to the Los Angeles Basin from Tuesday night and into Wednesday before it strengthens Christmas night.
While periods of rain occur at the coast and in the valleys, a more wintry feel will occur late on Christmas Day for some of the higher elevations.
“Snow levels will drop as low as 3,500 to 4,000 feet Wednesday and Thursday across Southern California, allowing any rain to change over to snow in the Grapevine,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
The highest elevations may see as much as 12 to 18 inches of snow.
Some of the major passes could have enough snow to cause travel issues, including Tejon Pass along Interstate 5 and Laguna Summit along I-8.
Those planning to travel through these areas should be prepared for delays and have fully winterized their vehicles.
Snow will not be the only precipitation to cause travel troubles through Thursday, as even those at the coast could experience delays.
“Rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches will be possible through Thursday across the L.A. Basin,” added Anderson. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™️ of 4 inches is possible into Thursday evening.
This much rain will bring the potential for ponding on the roadways as well as slower travel.
For Southern California, Thursday is expected to be the busiest travel day following Christmas, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The wet weather is likely to add to the congestion for motorists throughout the day.
The storm may also add to some delays for major airport hubs like Los Angeles International Airport and San Diego International Airport both on Christmas Day and the busier travel day of Boxing Day.
This storm will move through the southern Rockies during the latter half of the week, and eventually into the center of the country for the weekend.
Meanwhile, California looks to be on the drier side through the end of the year. However, the pattern is setting up in such a manner that at least one more storm could dive across the state before 2020 begins.
Denver – Monday, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement announcing his support for the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):
“I’ve long said that we should modernize NAFTA. The final USMCA brings our trade policies into the 21st century, and I am optimistic that it will strengthen labor and environmental standards in North America. Any trade agreement must expand opportunity for American workers and their families, and I commend the Democratic negotiators for securing enforcement tools that the Trump Administration initially left out to make this a much better deal for workers.
“The USMCA also provides some certainty for Colorado’s farmers and ranchers who have spent the last three years wondering whether President Trump would drive away another customer, or sacrifice another market to a foreign competitor with his feckless trade war — which has inflicted real and lasting damage on their bottom line. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and as a coauthor of two bipartisan farm bills, I understand the importance of stability and certainty for American producers. I also recognize that much more needs to be done to expand access to growing foreign markets instead of simply maintaining the ones we already have.
“While modernizing this agreement is a step in the right direction, more must be done to create trade policies that expand opportunities for American workers, businesses, farmers, and ranchers.”
DENVER – A Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigation into illegal hunting reports over the course of several years led to a plea deal with a Texas man who paid fines in excess of $53,000 thanks to the persistence of wildlife officers.
Raymond P. Muse, 50, of Chireno, Texas, pleaded guilty to willful destruction of wildlife and received a deferred judgement and sentence on that felony charge. Additionally, Muse pleaded guilty to 11 misdemeanor charges, including illegal possession of wildlife and hunting without a license, on Dec. 5, 2019 in Jefferson County District Court.
A Jefferson County judge sentenced Muse to two years of supervised probation and a court-ordered suspension of all hunting, fishing and trapping related activities. Pursuant to his deferred judgement and sentence on his felony conviction, Muse is restricted from possessing a firearm or other weapon, even for hunting purposes, during his two-year probation. Also with his conviction, he is required to undergo a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission administrative hearing process to determine the length of time that his hunting and fishing privileges will be suspended. Any suspension of hunting and fishing privileges in Colorado will be honored by all 48 member states through the Wildlife Violator Compact.
As part of the adjudication of the criminal case in this investigation, Muse was ordered to 96 hours of useful public service, pay $500 restitution to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, pay $500 donation to Colorado Operation Game Thief, pay over $53,000 in fines (not including court costs), and complete a hunter education program.
“We investigate crimes like this both to protect the wildlife of the state, but also to protect the interests of legal and ethical hunters here in Colorado,” said CPW Wildlife Officer Scott Murdoch, who worked the case. “That is really important. We have a strong heritage in Colorado of hunting, fishing and trapping, that is what pays for wildlife conservation, but only when it is done right.
“Illegal and unethical actions like what Mr. Muse participated in put a black eye on hunters. Mr. Muse’s actions are those of a poacher, not a hunter, and it is good to bring somebody like Mr. Muse to justice.”
CPW wildlife officers have investigated reports of illegal hunting in the Conifer and Evergreen area for years. Officers often get reports of illegal activity and cannot connect the dots until they get a break in the case, sometimes years later. That was certainly the case in this instance.
This case broke in September 2018 when an Evergreen resident noticed an individual on his property with what appeared to be a dead, headless elk. The witness did an excellent job of being an observer rather than confronting the individual later identified as Muse. The witness called the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to report the odd situation. Three deputies arrived on scene to check out the suspicious situation. The deputies attempted to contact Muse, who was dressed in camouflage. Muse immediately disobeyed the deputy’s commands and fled the area. Deputy D. Patterson called Wildlife Officer Scott Murdoch directly and asked for assistance. Communication directly between CPW and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office highlights their solid working relationship. Wildlife officers arrived on scene and worked with the Jefferson County deputies to secure the area and search for the suspect at large. Muse was not located.
At the incident location, there was in fact a headless bull elk. Additionally, there was hunting equipment found in the bushes near the elk. Wildlife officers obtained a search warrant for the backpacks and discovered identifying information inside. Additionally, wildlife officers obtained a search warrant for the cell phone that was also found at the scene. The cell phone later proved to be invaluable in providing a history of Muse’s illegal poaching habits.
Later, wildlife officers searched nearby areas where they suspected a poacher may try to kill game and located a bicycle, compound bow, backpack, clothing and the head from the 6X6 bull elk. This was a huge find as it showed officers how Muse was sneaking onto private properties to poach trophy wildlife.
Based on evidence discovered, officers believe Muse would drive around subdivisions in Conifer and Evergreen until he located an animal he wanted to kill. He would then find a place to stash hunting equipment out of sight. To keep people from getting suspicious he wouldn’t park the vehicle close by, instead he would park in a public area and ride his bike to the location where his gear was stashed. Muse would then change into his camo and begin to hunt. Many of the hunting locations that were identified were right under the noses or in the backyards of Conifer and Evergreen residents.
Officers patiently investigated him and learned about his poaching activities. While searching his cell phone, officers learned that there were other elk and deer that he had killed in Colorado. Officers also knew that Muse had only purchased one elk license in Colorado; the license was not valid in the Evergreen and Conifer area where he hunted.
In December 2018, wildlife officers continued their investigation by executing a search warrant at the Conifer home of his sister. They seized illegally possessed wildlife and other important evidence. Simultaneously, wildlife officers conducted interviews with associates and family members in Nacogdoches County, Texas. Wildlife Officers from Colorado traveled to Texas and met up with Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens, Randy Stovall, Heath Bragg, and Sean Reneau. The Texas Game Wardens were instrumental in obtaining testimony from those with knowledge of Muse’s actions.
“The Texas Game Wardens I worked with were among the most professional and competent I have ever worked with,” said Murdoch.
All said and done, the event that took place in September of 2018 was just the tip of the iceberg as far as Muse’s Colorado poaching goes. Officers learned of a total of five elk and one deer that Muse killed illegally, all without valid licenses. Three of the five elk were considered ‘trophies’ under Colorado law.
The Colorado State legislature created the Samson’s Law, which was approved on April 22, 1998. The law deals with an increase in the penalties for poaching big game animals and is named after an iconic elk ‘Samson’ was poached in Estes Park. The law enforces mandatory penalties for big game animals that meet a ‘trophy’ definition. Muse was certainly seeking out the largest animals to kill.
Wildlife officers presented the case to the Jefferson County District Attorney where it was later filed.
“At the end of the day, without the cooperation and support of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson County District Attorney, the hard work that wildlife officers do to bring poachers to justice would go unanswered,” Murdoch said. “I’d really like to thank the Jefferson County Sheriff Officers for their help and support, they were critical in getting the break wildlife officers needed.”
Wildlife officers also charged two other associates involved with the illegal possession of wildlife. Each defendant pleaded guilty to the possession of one bull elk and were fined $1372.50.
“Deputy District Attorney Alex Boguniewicz worked tirelessly to prosecute this case, and I want to commend his efforts,” Murdoch said. “This sends a clear message that wildlife crimes are not going to be tolerated in Jefferson County and that the district attorney’s office is working with CPW to protect wildlife and to protect the interests of legal sportspersons of Colorado.”
You can help stop poaching. If you see a poaching incident, report it. Look at it this way: if you saw someone breaking into your neighbor’s house, would you just stand by and watch? Of course not; you would report it. Poaching is a crime against you, your neighbor and everyone else in the state of Colorado. Call 1-877-COLO-OGT toll-free or Verizon cell phone users can simply dial #OGT. If you’d prefer, you can e-mail us at .
Colorado pump prices to dip by at least a quarter.
DENVER (Dec. 19, 2019) – Good news, Colorado: AAA forecasts that Centennial State motorists will enjoy some of the country’s most significant savings on gas heading into the new year, with pump prices expected to plummet by as much as a quarter in the coming weeks. The reason? Increasing gasoline stocks coupled with an anticipated seasonal demand drop will together drive prices down.
Regional gasoline stocks have averaged 7 million barrels since early October, per data from the Energy Information Administration. Refinery utilization rates, meanwhile, have hovered around 85 percent or higher. Those two factors, combined with the seasonal switch-over to winter-blend gasoline – which is cheaper to produce and sell – are driving down gas prices.
“Pump prices are finally trending downward in Colorado in what has been an abnormally expensive regional gas market, of late,” said AAA Colorado spokesman Skyler McKinley. “The even better news is that 2019’s prices are down nearly a dime from 2018, thanks in large part to cheaper crude oil prices.”
On a year-to-date basis, Colorado’s 2019 statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.57, down from $2.68 in 2018. Gas prices hit their highest point in June, at $2.87, and their lowest in February, at $2.01. Colorado has enjoyed the cheapest gas prices of any state in AAA’s Rockies analysis region – comprising Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Oil Market Dynamics
Colorado’s anticipated savings may be short-lived.
While crude oil prices have consistently fallen year-over-year, they may hover consistently above $60 per barrel as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners continue to reduce production, lowering global supply.
Earlier this month, OPEC and other major global producers, including Russia, announced an agreement to cut their total crude production by an additional 500,000 barrels per day beginning on January 1, 2020. This new agreement will likely remain in effect, without amendment, until the next OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria on March 5.
“This reduction in global crude supply will help drain the market, which will likely otherwise be oversupplied during the first half of next year,” McKinley said. “This could lead to more expensive crude oil and gas prices in mid-to-late January as compared to the start of recent years, assuming crude demand remains robust.”
Colorado Gas By the Numbers
Durango
Current Average: $2.57
Yesterday Average: $2.58
Week Ago Average: $2.57
Month Ago Average: $2.65
Year Ago Average: $2.54
Denver
Current Average: $2.68
Yesterday Average: $2.69
Week Ago Average: $2.72
Month Ago Average: $2.74
Year Ago Average: $2.29
Colorado Springs
Current Average: $2.70
Yesterday Average: $2.70
Week Ago Average: $2.75
Month Ago Average: $2.75
Year Ago Average: $2.34
Pueblo
Current Average: $2.73
Yesterday Average: $2.74
Week Ago Average: $2.83
Month Ago Average: $2.87
Year Ago Average: $2.52
Boulder-Longmont
Current Average: $2.73
Yesterday Average: $2.73
Week Ago Average: $2.76
Month Ago Average: $2.75
Year Ago Average: $2.30
Greeley
Current Average: $2.74
Yesterday Average: $2.75
Week Ago Average: $2.78
Month Ago Average: $2.79
Year Ago Average: $2.37
Fort Collins-Loveland
Current Average: $2.76
Yesterday Average: $2.77
Week Ago Average: $2.78
Month Ago Average: $2.79
Year Ago Average: $2.40
Grand Junction
Current Average: $2.80
Yesterday Average: $2.81
Week Ago Average: $2.86
Month Ago Average: $2.89
Year Ago Average: $2.57
Glenwood Springs
Current Average: $3.09
Yesterday Average: $3.09
Week Ago Average: $3.13
Month Ago Average: $3.16
Year Ago Average: $2.83
Vail
Current Average: $3.19
Yesterday Average: $3.20
Week Ago Average: $3.24
Month Ago Average: $3.29
Year Ago Average: $2.84
Winter Fuel & Driving Tips
As you hit the road this winter, AAA offers these tips to help conserve fuel and keep motorists safe:
As a precaution, keep at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times. It helps to reduce condensation in the fuel system. It also helps ensure an adequate reserve of fuel to run the engine for heat should your car become disabled in a remote location.
Optimize your daily driving. Maintain steady speeds. A car uses extra fuel accelerating. Cruise control may be a fuel saving option for motorists who drive a lot because a steady speed conserves fuel. This is helpful when driving on level roads. Cruise control, however, hurts mileage if you drive on hilly terrain.
Minimize last-minute braking. Anticipate traffic conditions. Be alert for slow-downs and red lights and coast up to them, if possible. Drive smoothly, avoiding “jackrabbit starts.” The faster you drive, the more fuel used. Remember, however, that traveling slower than traffic flow can cause a safety hazard.
Don’t haul extra weight in the passenger compartment or trunk. Reducing extra weight can save up to 2% fuel economy for every 100 lbs. removed depending on the weight of the vehicle. Also lose the roof rack, if not used regularly. Carrying things on a roof rack increases aerodynamic drag and reduces fuel economy – year-round.
Look into discounts. For example, AAA members can now save 30 cents per gallon on their first fill up, and 5 cents per gallon on every other fill-up, by signing up for the Fuel Rewards program by December 31, 2019. More information at com/Shell
Be sure to pack an emergency roadside kit in your car containing a mobile phone and car charger, first-aid kit, blankets, drinking water and snacks, a flashlight with extra batteries, a basic toolkit, warning flares, an ice scraper, jumper cables and a shovel.
About AAA Colorado
More than 695,000 members strong, AAA Colorado is the state’s greatest advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 60 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services — as well as member-exclusive savings. A not-for-profit organization since its founding in 1923, AAA Colorado has been recognized as the number one Colorado company its size for its advocacy, community engagement, and corporate social responsibility efforts – and is a proud member of Points of Light’s “The Civic 50 Colorado,” recognizing the 50 most community-minded companies in the state. For more information, visit AAA.com.
Dec. 19, 2019 (DENVER, Colo.)—Attorney General Phil Weiser announced today that CenturyLink will pay $8,476,000 forunfairly and deceptively charging hidden fees, falsely advertising guaranteed locked prices, and failing to provide discounts and refunds it promised to consumers who signed up for internet, television, and telephone services in Colorado.
“One of CenturyLink’s main selling points is that its prices are low and affordable. Yet, we received hundreds of complaints from consumers that their bills were more than the advertised price or the price that sales agents quoted them. This sticker shock often was a result of misleading hidden fees, overcharges for services, and CenturyLink’s failure to deliver discounts that they promised to consumers when they signed up for services,” explained Attorney General Phil Weiser. “CenturyLink’s conduct broke the law: they deceived consumers by telling them they would pay one price, and then charging them more. The settlement we are announcing today holds CenturyLink accountable and provides relief to consumers they harmed with their deceptive conduct.”
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section started investigating CenturyLink’s conduct in October 2017. The investigation uncovered evidence dating back to 2014 that the company systematically and deceptively overcharged consumers for services. For example, CenturyLink misled customers about the cost of its internet service by creating a disguised surcharge called an Internet Cost Recovery Fee that started at $.99 and was increased to $3.99 over the course of three years. CenturyLink listed this surcharge along with other industry standard and government fees on customers’ monthly bills, leading customers to believe it was a standard fee or tax for products or services. Instead, the fee was a hidden price increase that CenturyLink kept for itself to generate profit.
In addition, CenturyLink falsely advertised “price lock” and “fixed price” contracts while fully intending to charge customers more than the advertised price. For example, a 2015 mailer offered internet services for $19.95 per month and guaranteed that the price would be locked in for five years. However, CenturyLink charged more than the advertised price by adding the Internet Cost Recovery Fee, and then later increased the overcharge by increasing the fee. Because of this sleight of hand, the advertised price was not the actual price, nor was it “locked” or “fixed.”
On top of the deceptive nature of its Internet Cost Recovery Fee and price lock offers, CenturyLink’s complex promotional pricing schemes and outdated billing system resulted in routine misquotes to consumers. The company also gave sales agents incentives to deliberately mislead customers about the price of services. Sometimes, CenturyLink billed customers more than twice the rate that it had promised the consumer, and in many cases, it did not deliver the promised discounts.
Finally, when customers ended service with CenturyLink, the company sometimes failed to deliver a refund for the returned equipment, and only gave a refund when customers called and proved that they had returned the equipment.
Under an agreement filed in Denver District Court today, CenturyLink will refund customers $1,701,000 for overbilling errors by March 31, 2020. In addition, CenturyLink will pay $6,775,000 to the State of Colorado for violating the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. If feasible and practicable, the Attorney General’s office will return this money to customers who were impacted by CenturyLink’s conduct. Any remaining funds will be used to protect Coloradans from fraud or violations of the state’s antitrust laws that thwart competition and harm consumers, and for other appropriate purposes.
To protect consumers from any future such violations, CenturyLink has agreed to:
Disclose the actual price of its services, including charges and fees, at the time of sale and in sales materials and advertising;
Send the customer an “Order Confirmation” that includes a complete bill summary within three days after a customer orders services from CenturyLink;
Stop adding the Internet Cost Recovery Fee to future orders; and
Stop charging unreturned equipment fees to customers who return equipment on time.
CenturyLink must also submit compliance reports to the Consumer Protection Section of the Attorney General’s Office for three years, and must keep all sales call recordings and written sales correspondence for two years.
Protecting consumers is one of the Attorney General’s top priorities, and Weiser said his office will continue to investigate hidden fees and unfair price increases that companies charge consumers.
“I am committed to enforcing our consumer protection and antitrust laws, and to holding businesses accountable when they harm Coloradans. Today’s settlement sends a clear message that businesses must fairly and honestly disclose all fees and charges and that they must honor the prices that they quote to Colorado consumers. This action also makes clear that it is unacceptable to force consumers to go to considerable effort to receive promised refunds,” said Weiser.
Click here to read the complaint filed in Denver District Court.
Click here to read the consent judgment filed with the Denver District Court.
An atmospheric river of moisture stretching from the tropical Pacific into the Pacific Northwest will continue to dump heavy rain and mountain snow into this weekend.
As the Pineapple Express brought a steady rain to the Pacific Northwest Thursday, both Seattle and Olympia set daily rainfall records. The cities picked up 1.32 inches and 2.17 inches respectively. As of 8 a.m. PST Friday, Olympia and Shelton, Washington, had picked up more than 4 inches of rain from the storm.
Portions of the Pacific Northwest have been experiencing a moderate drought, so the rain and snow will be beneficial. However, too much of a good thing in such a short amount of time will lead to some problems across the region.
Flood watches extend up and down the Oregon and Washington coasts through Saturday, where persistent moderate to heavy rain was falling. In Bellevue, Washington, police posted a photo of a car that was trapped in floodwaters and urged the public to not attempt driving through deep water.
A car stranded in floodwaters on a road in Bellevue, Washington. Police said the driver of the vehicle escaped unharmed, but urged the public to not take chances driving through deep water. (Bellevue Police Department).
At higher elevations, heavy snow is causing a whole different set of dangers. Across the Cascades and Olympic Mountains, winter storm and avalanche warnings are in place because several feet of snow is expected in addition to the snow already on the ground.
Satellite animation on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, shows a plume of moisture extending from the Pacific Ocean west of Hawaii into the Pacific Northwest. (NOAA / GOES)
Olympic National Park in Washington has seen an explosion of snowfall over a 12-day period through mid-December. A webcam posted high up on Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains showed no snow-cover whatsoever as recently as Dec. 8. By Friday, Dec. 20, immense snowfall had almost entirely obscured the view from the webcam at Hurricane Ridge.
On Friday, the atmospheric firehose of rain and snow will continue to fire at the Pacific Northwest coastline, generally from Portland, Oregon, northward into Washington.
The steadiest and heaviest rain is likely to fall across the Olympic Peninsula, areas surrounding the Puget Sound and along upsloping areas of the Cascades. Through the entire rainfall event spanning from Thursday through Saturday, some areas could reach an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 10 inches.
“Widespread urban and small stream flooding are a given in a pattern such as this,” according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
As moisture streams into the Cascades, heavy snow is expected to pile up above 4,000 feet. By the time the event wraps up this weekend, the high country could be buried under 5 or more feet of fresh snow.
So much snow in such a short amount of time has prompted avalanche warnings across the Cascades. Skiers looking to head out and hit the fresh powder late this week and into this weekend will need to take necessary precautions to avoid falling victim to these dangerous phenomena.
While the heaviest rain will largely stay north of Oregon on Friday, southerly winds of 25-45 mph with higher gusts along the coast will prove to be difficult for those traveling along U.S. Route 101 along the Oregon coast.
Rain and snow coverage will expand southward in coverage Saturday, bringing wet weather to places like Eugene and Medford, Oregon, and into Northern California as well.
“As the jet stream shifts farther south on Saturday, the bull’s-eye for flooding rain will transfer from the Washington coast southward to portions of western Oregon and Northern California.” AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert stated.
Travel along Interstate 5 from Seattle to Northern California will likely have weather-related issues courtesy of the persistent wet weather on Saturday.
Along with disruptions in travel across the Pacific Northwest, there is increasing concern for area rivers overflowing their banks.
This motion graphic shows the increase in snow depth across the Olympic Mountains between Dec. 8 and Dec. 20, 2019. (AccuWeather / NOAA)
“Heavy rain falling over a relatively short period will likely cause at least minor flooding issues in the region.” Gilbert said.
“In situations such as this, where snow levels rise to the intermediate elevations of the Cascades and Olympics, rapidly melting snow with heavy rain can lead to rapid rises along the short-run rivers in the region,” Sosnowski added.
Remember, if you happen to see flowing water over roadways, turn around, don’t drown.
By Sunday, the storm system bringing the plume of moisture into the Pacific Northwest is expected to track into the California coastline. As it does so, the widespread rainfall will come to an end.
As the storm system comes ashore, it will draw down colder air, lowering the snow levels across the Cascades. While only occasional snow showers will remain over the mountains by Sunday, some of those can occur under 3,000 feet in elevation. Snoqualmie and Steven’s Pass, Washington, receiving rain into Saturday could turn slippery by Sunday.
With the exception of the occasional shower along the Pacific Northwest coast early next week, conditions look to settle down in the days leading up to Christmas.
More Coloradans traveling for holiday season than ever before.
DENVER (Dec. 20, 2019) – A record-shattering number of Coloradans – more than 1.96 million – will travel over the course of this holiday season, spanning Saturday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. That represents Colorado’s highest year-end travel volume on record since AAA tracking began in 2000, and an increase of more than four percent over 2018.
“The end of the year wraps up a decade of historic growth for Colorado, and many Coloradans are taking the news in stride, marking the eighth straight year of successive record-high travel volumes for the year-end holidays,” said AAA Colorado spokesman Skyler McKinley. “We’re lucky to enjoy historically low unemployment and meaningful year-over-year improvements in disposable income and household net worth, and folks are celebrating by hitting the roads and taking to the skies.”
By the Numbers: 2019 Year-End Travel Forecast
Automobiles: The vast majority of Colorado travelers – 1.78 million – will drive to their holiday destinations, joining the ranks of 104.8 million Americans on the road.
Planes: Nearly 120,000 Coloradans will travel by air for the holidays, with 6.97 million Americans taking to the skies in total – the most since 2003.
Trains, Buses and Cruise Ships: Nearly 65,000 Coloradans will travel by other means over the holidays, joining the ranks of nearly 3.81 million Americans in total – a three percent increase over last year.
National economic factors influencing the travel forecast include:
Despite some near-term wobbles, the U.S. economy continues to grow at a slightly above-trend pace. GDP growth this year is projected at 2.1 percent.
The national unemployment rate settled at 3.5 percent in November, among the lowest in 50 years. Colorado’s unemployment rate sits well below the national average, at 2.6 percent.
At a national level, strong gains in household sector wealth and solid growth in incomes provide a firm foundation for continued strength in consumer spending, which is expected to grow by 4.3 percent.
Gas prices steadily declined in November, paving the way for even cheaper fill-ups for the year-end holidays. AAA expects most motorists to see gas prices drop before the new year, with gas prices in Colorado forecasted to drop a quarter or more.
Avoid Road Rage: Plan for Traffic For the 104.8 million Americans traveling by automobile, INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts only marginal delays throughout the holiday week – with one notable exception. Motorists should expect the worst delays on Thursday, Dec. 26, with travel times potentially doubled.
Traffic delays can add additional stress to an already hectic season. Drivers are encouraged to maintain a cool head and focus on reaching their destination safely.
Do not offend: Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes or to turn their steering wheel in response to something you have done.
Be tolerant and forgiving: The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Never assume that it’s personal.
Do not respond: Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle, and contact 9-11 if needed.
Prepare for busy airports Dec. 21-23, steep flight prices Dec. 26 A recent analysis of AAA’s flight booking data revealed that most travelers depart two to four days prior to the Christmas holiday, Dec. 21-23, with the 22nd being the single busiest air travel day of the holiday week. These travelers, on average, pay ticket prices between $593 and $639. Christmas Eve is the best day to travel, with the lowest average price per ticket ($527) and the fewest crowds of the holiday week. Many travelers opt to fly after the Christmas holiday leading up to New Year’s, and they pay a premium to do so. Dec. 26 has the highest average ticket price of the week at $692.
Hotel prices fluctuate; car rental rates reach 10-year high
Travelers will need to budget more for car rentals this holiday season. According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, the daily average rental rate this Christmas and New Year’s will reach $84, 11 percent more than last year and the highest price in 10 years. AAA Three Diamond hotel prices have increased one percent to $153, while AAA Two Diamond hotels will average $119, two percent less than last year.
AAA to rescue more than 853,000 motorists AAA expects to rescue nearly 853,000 motorists at the roadside over this holiday period. Dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires will be the leading reasons AAA members will experience car trouble. In Colorado, AAA anticipates more than 10,500 drivers will require assistance at the roadside during the travel period. AAA recommends motorists take their vehicle to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out. Oil changes, fluid level checks, battery tests and tire inspections go a long way toward reducing the chances of a breakdown. Find a good mechanic at AAA.com/Repair.
About the Forecast AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit, a London-based business information provider. For the purposes of this forecast, the year-end holiday travel period is defined as the 12-day period from Saturday, Dec. 21 to Wednesday, Jan. 1.
In cooperation with AAA, IHS Markit developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes, using macroeconomic drivers such as employment; output; household net worth; asset prices including stock indices; interest rates; housing market indicators and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays.
About INRIX:
INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. Our partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small.
About AAA Colorado More than 695,000 members strong, AAA Colorado is the state’s greatest advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 60 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services — as well as member-exclusive savings. A not-for-profit organization since its founding in 1923, AAA Colorado has been recognized as the number one Colorado company its size for its advocacy, community engagement, and corporate social responsibility efforts – and is a proud member of Points of Light’s “The Civic 50 Colorado,” recognizing the 50 most community-minded companies in the state. For more information, visit AAA.com.
Ramp B Full Closure, East Colfax Avenue Lane Closure
December 20 – 23
Aurora, CO — Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 20, East Colfax Avenue will be reduced to one lane beneath the E-470 bridge as crews begin erecting girders for the bridge. Schedule depending, both lanes should be reopened to the travelling public by 9 a.m. Saturday, December 21. Minor delays can be expected, and as a reminder for motorists, please drive at the posted speed limits in the construction zone.
From 9 p.m. Saturday, December 21 to 9 a.m. Sunday, December 22, the southbound on-ramp from I-70 to E-470 will be closed as girders are set for the E-470 bridge expansion. Traffic will be detoured through Gun Club Road and uniformed traffic control will be in place to keep traffic moving. Expect delays when travelling through this detour.
In addition, from 7 p.m. Sunday, December 22, to 5 a.m. Monday, December 23, I-70 will be reduced to one lane in both directions beneath the E-470 bridge as crews restripe the lanes. The travelling public can expect reduced speeds through this area.
Note that all activities are weather dependent.
E-470 is the 75-mph toll road running along the eastern perimeter of the Denver metropolitan area. E-470 is a user-financed roadway, receiving no local, state or federal funds for financing, construction, operations or maintenance. E-470 is a political sub-division of the state governed by the E-470 Public Highway Authority Board composed of eight local governments including Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties, and the municipalities of Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, Parker and Thornton. E-470 also operates ExpressToll, the all-electronic toll collection system available on E-470, Northwest Parkway, and Colorado’s Express Lanes.
FBI Denver – Special Agent Amy Meyer (303) 630-6060
‘Tis the season for scammers who prey on those looking for last-minute shopping deals! FBI Denver Division reminds local shoppers to beware of scams and stay vigilant of thieves who steal their money and personal information. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (https://www.ic3.gov), Wyoming victims lost over $4.5 million in Internet scams in 2018. The most vulnerable population in the U.S. are those over age 60, although people of all ages fell victim to scams last year.
Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is! Last minute shoppers, stay vigilant for the following red flags and common schemes.
Online Shopping Scams:
Scammers often offer too-good-to-be-true deals via phishing emails or advertisements. Such schemes may offer brand-name merchandise at extremely low prices or offer gift cards as an incentive. Other sites may offer products at a great price, but the products being sold are not the same as the products advertised.
Consumers should steer clear of untrustworthy sites or ads offering items at unrealistic discounts or with special coupons. They may pay for an item and give away personal information and credit card details then receive nothing in return except a compromised identity.
Social Media Scams:
Consumers should beware of posts on social media sites that appear to offer vouchers or gift cards. Some may appear as holiday promotions or contests. Others may appear to be from known friends who have shared the link. Often, these scams lead consumers to participate in an online survey that is designed to steal personal information.
Consumers should not post pictures of event tickets on social media sites. Fraudsters can create a ticket using the barcode obtained from the photo and resell the ticket. Consumers should protect ticket barcodes as they would credit card numbers.
Smartphone App Scams:
Some mobile apps, often disguised as games and offered for free, are designed to steal personal information. Before downloading an app from an unknown source, consumers should research the company selling it or giving it away and look online for third-party reviews of the product.
Work-From-Home Scams
Consumers should beware of sites and posts offering work they can do from home. These opportunities rely on convenience as a selling point but may have fraudulent intentions. Consumers should carefully research the job posting and individuals or company offering employment.
Gift Card Scams
During the holiday season, consumers should be careful if someone asks them to purchase gift cards for them. In these scams, the victims received either a spoofed email, a spoofed phone call, or a spoofed text from a person in authority requesting the victim purchase multiple gift cards for either personal or business reasons.
As an example, a victim receives a request to purchase gift cards for a work-related function or as a present for a special personal occasion. The gift cards are then used to facilitate the purchase of goods and services, which may or may not be legitimate. Some of these incidents are combined with additional requests for wire transfer payments, as described in classic Business email Compromise (BEC) scenarios. The following link to IC3’s BEC Public Service Announcement provides additional information about business email compromise and gift card requests (https://www.ic3.gov/media/2018/181024.aspx).
Charity Scams
Fraudulent charity scams, where perpetrators set up false charities and profit from individuals who believe they are making donations to legitimate charitable organizations, are common after natural disasters or man-made tragedies. Charity fraud also increases during the holiday season when individuals seek to make end-of-year tax deductible gifts or are reminded of those less fortunate and wish to contribute to a good cause. Seasonal charity scams can pose greater difficulties in monitoring because of their widespread reach, limited duration and, when done over the Internet, minimal oversight.
Charity scam solicitations may come through cold calls, email campaigns, crowdfunding platforms—soliciting money from many people usually over the Internet—or fake social media accounts and websites. They are designed to make it easy for victims to give and feel like they’re making a difference. Perpetrators may divert some or all the funds for their personal use, and those most in need will never see the donation.
Consumers can do the following to reduce their chances of being victimized:
Check credit card statements routinely. If possible, set up credit card transaction auto alerts, or check balance after every online purchase. It is important to check statements after the holiday season, as many fraudulent charges can show up even several weeks later.
If purchasing merchandise, ensure it is from a reputable source.
Ensure a site is secure and reputable before providing credit card number online. Don’t trust a site just because it claims to be secure.
Beware of purchases or services that require payment with a gift card.
Beware of providing credit card information when requested through unsolicited emails.
Do not respond to unsolicited emails.
Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited email.
Avoid filling out forms contained in email messages that ask for personal information.
Be cautious of emails claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Scan all attachments for viruses if possible.
Verify requests for personal information from any business or financial institution by contacting them using the main contact information on their official website.
Secure credit card accounts, even rewards accounts, with strong passwords. Change passwords and check accounts routinely.
Be wary when replying to unsolicited emails for work-at-home employment.
Be cautious of exaggerated claims of possible earnings or profits.
Beware when money is required up front for instructions or products for employment.
Do not give out personal information when first interacting with a prospective employer.
Be leery when a job posting claims “no experience necessary.”
Be cautious when dealing with individuals outside of the country.
Only donate to known and trusted charities; legitimate charities do not solicit donations via money transfer services or ask for donations via gift cards.
Make contributions directly, rather than through an intermediary, and pay via credit card or check; avoid cash donations, if possible.
Beware of organizations with copycat names similar to reputable charities; most legitimate charity websites use .org (NOT .com).
Consumers who believe they are the victim of a scam should:
Contact their financial institution immediately upon suspecting or discovering a fraudulent transfer.
Ask their bank to reach out to the financial institution where the fraudulent transfer was sent.
Contact law enforcement.
File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov, regardless of dollar loss. Provide all relevant information in the complaint.
