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PHOTOS: Blizzard of 1982 in Colorado on Christmas

Denver Post Library Archive
Ed Morrell, 1360 Stteele, spent the majority of Christmas morning digging out two spots for the family cars along the street. The piles of snow he was leaving behind measured over 8 feet high.
Denver Post Library Archive
Street lined with buried cars after the Blizzard Of '82.
UPI
Air Travelers sleep at Stapleton International Airport Christmas night 12/25 as they wait for their flights. Officials managed to open one runway late 12/25. Thousands were stranded by the Blizzard of 1982.
Denver Post Library Archive
Jenny Ball of Denver makes her way along Colfax Street in downtown Denver on Christmas Day on skis. More than two feet of snow on Christmas Eve paralyzed the city, stranding motorists and forcing residents of the Mile Hi City to seek other forms of transportation. 1982
Denver Post Library Archive
John Facio of Denver uses a power snow blower to clear the sidewalk in front of his home. Residents of the Mile High City will be clearing snow for some time after a severe winter storm on Christmas Eve 1982 dumped more than two-feet of snow on the area.
Denver Post Library Archive
Afternoon Glide -- Denverite Abby Marsh and her dog, Sheba, took advantage of Wednesday's sunshine going for a cross - country ski outing in Denver's Cheeseman Park. 1982
Denver Post Library Archive
Digging Out - A motorist uses a snow shovel to clear snow from under his automobile on Friday in Denver where more than a foot of snow blanketed the city. 1982.
UPI, Denver Post Library Archive
Unidentified woman digs out her car on one of Denver main streets December 25, 1982 after a blizzard dropped three feet of snow on the area Christmas Day. A abandoned jack knifed semi trailer is snowed in.
Denver Post Library Archive
Digging Out -- Florece Barrier returned to Denver Wednesday after a trip to Texas to find her car buried in snow in front of her house. Denver continues to dig out with snow forecast for later in the week. 1982.
Denver Post Library Archive
A road grader clears snow from ramps around the concourses at Stapleton International Airport, where air traffic was halted Christmas Eve and much of Christmas Day because of a blizzard that paralyzed the city. Most airlines chose to cancel all Christmas flight despite efforts to open a runway by dusk. 1982.
Denver Post Library Archive
Starting to dig out after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Digging out after the Blizzard of '82 in Denver.
Denver Post Library Archive
Pedestrians seem to make as much progress through snow bound main street than autos which are spun out in various directions. A Christmas blizzard dumped up to three feet of snow. This scene was on Colorado Blvd in 1982.
Denver Post Library Archive
A tractor tries to help free five cars in Broomfield which are buried in the snow December 25, 1982. A blizzard dumped up to three feet of snow on Denver.
Denver Post Library Archive
Cross country skiing in Denver after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Cars still stranded along the street after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A bus slides off the street during the Blizzard Of '82.
John Prieto, The Denver Post
Amy Prieto having fun climbing huge snow drifts in front of her home in Thornton after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A couple venturing out during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A man makes his way through the snow during the Blizzard Of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A bus slid off the road during the Blizzard Of '82.
Dave Buresh, The Denver Post
Herb Schneider trying to dig out his car. He would dig a little and then with chains on he would drive forward. Getting out was slow but he was making it until his chains broke. He decided they would just have to come and tow it out.
Denver Post Library Archive
People hustle through the snow during the Blizzard Of '82.
AP
Jeff Hakmen shovels snow from around his stranded four-wheel drive vehicle at his home in Denver on Christmas day 1982. More than two-feet of snow fell on the Denver area on Christmas Eve stranding thousands enroute to visit relative for Christmas. 1982.
Denver Post Library Archive
People trying to make the best of it while stranded at the airport during the Blizzard Of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver Post
The view from one Stapelton bar on the D concourse showed snow removal coming along just fine Monday after the Blizzard of '82. Officials there claim to have service back to normal by Wednesday.
Denver Post Library Archive
Lines of traffic headed for Stapleton International Airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver Post
A weary TWA passenger attempted a cat nap at one of Stapelton's concourse gates as he and other passengers had been waiting for two days to get out of Denver during the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver Post
Travel was still difficult for some passengers after the Blizzard of '82. Some upwards to a mile from the airport and others sat on the luggage waiting patiently for their rides.
Denver Post Library Archive
Stranded travelers during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Traffic headed for the airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Clearing out the snow at Stapleton International Airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Long lines at the airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Aerial view of the traffic at Stapleton after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Lines at the airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver Post
A Motorist that spent Christmas eve, in a motel, got the help of Ray Pafford, right and another unidentified passerby, as the the motorist tried to leave the motel early Christmas morning.
Denver Post Library Archive
Cleaning up after the Blizzard Of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
People venture out after the Blizzard Of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Trash piles up after the Blizzard Of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
People switch busses after one slid off the street during the Blizzard of '82.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver Post
Putting chains on a car at Denver Post loading doors during the blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A bus stuck on the side of the street during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A man rides his bike down the street after the Blizzard of '82.
Dave Buresh, The Denver Post
People make their way over the snowbank to catch the bus after the Blizzard of '82.
Anthony Suau, The Denver Post
Stapleton airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Aerial view of the airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
People line up to catch the bus after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Long lines of travelers at the airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Stapleton airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
People cross country skiing down the street during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A man trying to dig out his car after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A parking lot with cars buried in up to three feet of snow after the Blizzard of '82.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver Post
People out for a walk in the Blizzard of '82.
Dave Buresh, The Denver Post
Dressed for the Blizzard of '82,
Denver Post Library Archive
A man uses a broom to clear off his car after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Blizzard of '82, whiteout near 3rd ave. and Steele St. near Cherry Creek Shopping area.
Anthony Suau, The Denver Post
Blizzard of '82, at Stout and 17th, Laurie Rose repairs a flat tire after applying chains to her car.
Dave Buresh, The Denver Post
Mary Scarborough and her son Steven Wells are making there 1st snow man. They came from Phoenix Arizona in Sept. and are having a ball with this snow from the blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A Coors delivery truck stuck in the street after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Two men had to push their bikes down the snow covered streets during the Blizzard of '82.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver Post
Slow going after the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver Post
Charles Bonniwell, walks westbound on Colfax Monday morning after the blizzard of '82 on his way to work from his home on Williams street east of Boradway. Bonniwell carried his dress shoes in his coat pockets.
Anthony Suau, The Denver Post
A pedestrian walks down 15th street at California during the blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Appearing much like a resort town, Denver as seen from Colfax avenue looking west showed Christmas morning, a select number of autos, mainly four wheeled drive vehicles and lots of residents coming to the streets to look at the blizzard remains.
Denver Post Library Archive
People lending a hand to a stuck driver after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Shelters fill up during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Blizzard of '82, City Center emergency room.
Denver Post Library Archive
Blizzard of '82, Lovingway church van abandoned at 13th, one block west of Colo. Blvd.
Denver Post Library Archive
A backhoe cleaning up after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
People trying to make their way to the airport after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Dressed for the Blizzard of '82.
Lyn Alweis, The Denver Post
Rick Slezak ofl Denver skied to the newspaper box this morning at 7:30 AM with his dog Beau to get his morning paper but there were no new papers in the box yet because of the roads. This was the 1800 block of South Downing.
Dave Buresh, The Denver Post
Laurie Rose is chopping away the ice and snow in front of the shoe store that she and her husband own at 3100 E Colfax . The owners of the three stores there were all pitching in to encourage customers they were open for business.
Denver Post Library Archive
A man walks his dog in the Blizzard of '82.
Eric Bakke, The Denver Post
Martha Buerkle, who lives at 12th and Humbolt headed to downtown via East Colfax Monday morning for work.
Denver Post Library Archive
Tow trucks haul away abandoned vehicles in the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
People walking down Colfax after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
An aerial view after the Blizzard of '82.
Bill Wunsuch, The Denver Post
Blizzard of '82, Colo 94 near Pumpkin Center.
Denver Post Library Archive
Tow truck trying to help a stuck car during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Newspapers at 8th and Colorado Blvd never made it to residences.
Denver Post Library Archive
A man wades through the snow next to a stuck bus during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Residents, stranded motorists and passersby stop at a convenience food store on Colfax as a place of refuge from the sometimes- waist deep snow around the metro area.
Denver Post Library Archive
No eggs were available at this store as the delivery trucks couldn't make it through the Blizzard of '82. Denver Post Library Archive
Denver Post Library Archive
Stranded bus passengers at 17th and California during the blizzard of 1982.
Denver Post Library Archive
Stranded travelers at the airport during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Cars sit buried along the street after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Digging out after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
It appears even Santa was stranded in Denver during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
People stranded at the airport in Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Long lines at the airport during Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Mailman Robert Gallegos delivers mail amidst piles of snow Thursday afternoon in Montbello an eastern suburb of Denver. Although Mr. Gallegos said this was his second day back on the job since "The Blizzard of '82" hit the Mile High City on Christmas Eve he also remarked that he was between two and three hours behind schedule on his daily route. 1982.
Denver Post Library Archive
Cleaning up after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
People make their way down the snow covered streets after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A man trying to clear off a car during the Blizzard of '82.
UPI
One of the hardest hit area,Aurora a Denver suburb the main street of Colfax Ave is inundated by snow from the Christmas blizzard here 12/26.Two days after the storm cars and a bus sit abandoned on this Main Ave.
Denver Post Library Archive
The streets were buried with up to three feet of snow during the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
Trying to clear out after the Blizzard of '82.
Denver Post Library Archive
A man doesn't look very happy about having to dig out his truck in the Blizzard of '82.

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By The Denver Post | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: May 26, 2016 at 11:09 a.m. | UPDATED: December 22, 2017 at 7:35 p.m.

The Blizzard of 1982 in Colorado descended upon the state on Christmas Eve, continuing through Christmas Day, and once it was finished, dumped three feet of snow in total.

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