Arctic Cold Blows Into Plains

A Canadian cold front more typical of mid-winter than early spring poured into the northern Plains today, bringing snow, strong winds and bitter wind chills.

The arctic air, producing gusty north winds of up to 40 m.p.h. in the Dakotas, spread snow and freezing rain from Montana and the Dakotas to Nebraska and Colorado, where up to four inches were in the forecast across the Front Range area. The spring snowstorm made for a messy morning rush hour in Denver, and schools east of the city started closing before noon.