Rockies Voters Wade Through New Snow

Snow greeted voters Tuesday from the northern Rockies and Dakotas south into the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico, closing some highways and leaving others snow-packed and slippery.

Wyoming officials warned of slick roads, blowing snow and fog over many parts of the state, and a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne was closed at midday.

Blizzards swept the Laramie Mountain range, and up to two additional feet of snow was expected in some mountain areas.

The storm also closed several Wyoming roads that are not maintained in the winter, as well as roads in Yellowstone National Park.

Snow had started falling during the weekend in parts of the northern Rockies. Forty inches had fallen at Arrowhead Lodge, west of Sheridan, Wyo., and 46 inches at Gothic, Colo., the National Weather Service reported. Bear Lodge, also west of Sheridan, reported 30 inches and Lake City, Colo., had 18 inches.

Blowing and drifting snow made travel hazardous in South Dakota, especially in the north-central part of the state.

Weather service meteorologists said snow that fell Monday had melted and frozen again, adding a layer of ice to many roads.

Interstate 29 from Brookings north to the North Dakota line was snow-covered and slippery, as were parts of east-west Interstate 90. As much as 10 inches of snow was expected in the Black Hills.

North Dakota also had wind and snow, but voters were standing outside in line when some polling places opened. In Minnesota, voters in Minneapolis trudged through eight inches of snow, while 13.8 inches had fallen at Duluth since Sunday night.

Snow fell during the day Tuesday in the mountains of north-central New Mexico, including about four inches in Santa Fe. Roads were wet and slushy to snow-packed and icy, authorities said.

It was overcast in much of Missouri, with rain and snow making for slushy conditions around Kansas City. Light snow fell in the Texas Panhandle and parts of Kansas, mixed with light rain or sleet in places.