New snow for Vail ahead of busy MLK weekend

Snow started falling on Vail and Beaver Creek Wednesday morning, ushering in an active pattern of three storms ahead of and just after the busy Martin Luther King Jr. three-day weekend. Parking restrictions will be in place in the town of Vail for the MLK weekend.

Tuesday marked what would have been the 90^th birthday of the civil rights leader, and his legacy has never been more important to a nation locked in a federal-government shutdown over a southern border wall aimed at impeding immigrant labor vital to Vail’s economy.

Snow riders should have excellent conditions for the long weekend, with more than 150 inches of cumulative snowfall so far this season and a settled base of 42 inches. A few more inches of snow should fall by Friday, when a second and more impressive storm takes aim at Vail.

“Snow will … become more intense over the northern and central mountains on Friday and Friday night as the wind swings around to blow from the northwest,” Opensnow.com meteorologist Joel Gratz reported on Wednesday. “Accumulations of 5-15 inches still looks like a good forecast with the best powder for most areas on Friday and also powder on Saturday morning for the northern mountains as northwest flow should bring some accumulation after the lifts close on Friday.”

Then a third storm is in the forecast for Monday night into Tuesday.

Here’s a Town of Vail press release on this weekend’s parking restrictions:

Vail Parking Restrictions to take place during Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Peak season parking restrictions will be in place during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Adjustments include:

• On Monday, Jan. 21, Blue Parking Pass holders will be directed to the Lionshead parking structure and Green Parking Pass holders will use the Ford Park lot. On Tuesday, Jan. 22, the Blue Pass will also be good for entry again into the Vail Village structure Monday through Thursdays until the final peak period of the season on Feb. 18, while the Green Pass will be good for entry again into the Lionshead parking structure Monday through Thursdays.

• Value card holders will pay the peak rate Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18-19, plus Monday, Jan. 21.

• Free parking will be available at Donovan Pavilion, 1600 S. Frontage Rd. W., throughout the holiday weekend, as no events have been scheduled for the pavilion during these times. The spaces will be available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. For parking availability all season long, visit vaileventparking.com.

• Free parking along the North Frontage Road across from the West Vail Mall and west of the West Vail roundabout is available daily throughout the season from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. with easy access to the bus stop.

• Free parking is offered in the Village and Lionshead structures for up to 2 hours all season long as well as free 30-minute parking for drop-off and other short-term needs on the top deck of the Village structure and the passenger drop-off in the Lionshead structure with entry and exit from East Lionshead Circle on the west side. Also, enter after 3 p.m. for free parking in both structures until 3 a.m. seven days a week.

• Free parking along the South Frontage Road will be available when the two parking structures are full. Watch the variable message signs for updates.

• Vail will add additional outlying morning buses and additional outlying evening buses to supplement the scheduled routes during the holiday. ECO regional transit is running its winter schedule as well.

• Never drink and drive. The town offers a DUI prevention program. Under exceptional circumstances, complimentary parking may be requested for vehicles entering the structure after 3 p.m. and exiting by 11 a.m. the next day. Drivers must visit a staffed booth upon exit. Authorization receipts are available from the Vail Welcome Centers, which open at 8:30 a.m. daily. While this service is available for limited use, please remember to plan ahead and ride the bus, take a taxi or have a designated driver.

• For Vail transit information, call 970-479-2178; for ECO Transit, call 970-328-3520; or for parking information, call 970-479-2104.