DENVER — More than a foot of wet, heavy snow closed highways and canceled flights in parts of Colorado and Wyoming on Friday.
Up to 3 feet of snow was expected by tonight in the mountains above 6,000 feet, forecasters said. Nearly 2 feet already had fallen in Rocky Mountain National Park about 60 miles northwest of Denver.
The weather forced a return to heavy coats and snow boots for some who already had packed away their winter clothes.
"I cannot get used to this snow,” said Myra Gonzalez, 25, who moved to Denver from Southern California two years ago.
Gonzalez said she usually drives to work but opted for the bus after seeing heavy flakes outside.
"Now I’m stuck on the bus. I didn’t even want to mess with it,” the customer-service worker said.
Many suburban Denver schools closed early Friday. United Airlines, the dominant carrier at Denver International Airport, canceled 76 flights.
The storm was welcomed at ski areas, though, where the economic downturn has reduced bookings more than 8 percent from last year at some resorts.
On Friday, the slopes were packed with late-season skiers and snowboarders taking their final runs of the season. Most resorts close Sunday.
The storm was not without headaches, though. A 140-mile stretch of Interstate 80 and many smaller roads in Wyoming were closed.
Authorities had no reports of serious injuries.
Parts of central and southern Wyoming were under a winter storm warning. Federal courts and city offices were closed in Cheyenne, where at least 14 inches were predicted. The Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne canceled an Earth Day celebration planned for today.
by the associated press
Up to 3 feet of snow was expected by tonight in the mountains above 6,000 feet, forecasters said. Nearly 2 feet already had fallen in Rocky Mountain National Park about 60 miles northwest of Denver.
The weather forced a return to heavy coats and snow boots for some who already had packed away their winter clothes.
"I cannot get used to this snow,” said Myra Gonzalez, 25, who moved to Denver from Southern California two years ago.
Gonzalez said she usually drives to work but opted for the bus after seeing heavy flakes outside.
"Now I’m stuck on the bus. I didn’t even want to mess with it,” the customer-service worker said.
Many suburban Denver schools closed early Friday. United Airlines, the dominant carrier at Denver International Airport, canceled 76 flights.
The storm was welcomed at ski areas, though, where the economic downturn has reduced bookings more than 8 percent from last year at some resorts.
On Friday, the slopes were packed with late-season skiers and snowboarders taking their final runs of the season. Most resorts close Sunday.
The storm was not without headaches, though. A 140-mile stretch of Interstate 80 and many smaller roads in Wyoming were closed.
Authorities had no reports of serious injuries.
Parts of central and southern Wyoming were under a winter storm warning. Federal courts and city offices were closed in Cheyenne, where at least 14 inches were predicted. The Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne canceled an Earth Day celebration planned for today.
by the associated press
