Winter storm pours west with heavy snow, strong winds: NPR

A winter storm that slowed traffic, cut off electricity and disrupted flights in parts of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska over the weekend is forecast to spread to the Midwest on Monday.

The storm rolled over parts of the Rocky Mountains late Saturday to Sunday, falling a few feet of snow and heavy rain. The wind gust caused the conditions and inhabitants to be whitewashed were warned stay out of the way.

Some drivers in Arizona on Interstate 40 on Saturday night did not arrive home on time listening to warnings and coercion some spend On Saturday night on the road, after icy conditions caused several falls and shut down the highway.

The long-term effects of the storm are expected to cause harsh conditions albeit early Monday as residents dig under record level snowfall.

Several school districts in Colorado ordered classes will be canceled on Monday.

“Even as the storm subsides, traveling across the state will be extremely challenging Monday morning,” Chief Matthew Packard of the Colorado State Patrol said. he said.

In Wyoming, Gov. Mark Gordon said strong winds and heavier snowfall are expected in the state, and government operations will be limited. He tweeted that residents “stay safe and avoid unnecessary travel”.

Extra snow is anticipated to fall in parts of South Dakota, southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. National Weather Service of Phoenix warned strong winds, up to 40-50 mph, are expected by Monday afternoon.

Closed roads

Conditions of omission closed dozens of roads in Colorado for most of Sunday – including several sections of Interstate 70, according to the State Department of Transportation. Parts of interstate 25 and 76 were also closed.

Small avalanches were reported that hit Highway 14 in Colorado in the north-central region on Sunday, the Colorado DOT said.

The main highways in Nebraska were also closed on Sunday due to blizzards that left snowy feet on the roads. There were also several sections I-80 and I-25 closed Wyoming.

Snow clearing operations in the Casper area of ​​Wyoming were suspended on Sunday afternoon due to lack of visibility, the region’s transportation department he said.

“We had a few plows that drove off the road because of limited zero visibility,” the agency said on its Facebook page.

Power outage, flights canceled

There were more than 54,000 homes and businesses without power Sunday afternoon in Colorado. By Sunday night at 11 p.m., 26,000 were still without electricity.

Winter weather also forced the closure of all six runways of Denver International Airport by Sunday. The main road leading to the airport is also closed due to vehicles with disabilities.

A late-season winter storm fell at the airport by 24.1 inches, enough to make the storm the fourth largest in the city’s history, Colorado Public Radio reported.