Blizzard Plows Into Wyoming, Colorado; Highways Closed

A blizzard paralyzed parts of Wyoming and Colorado on Tuesday, shutting down state government, airports and hundreds of miles of highway as snowdrifts piled up to 5 feet high.

About 1,000 people were stranded at Denver International Airport, where United canceled all flights until today. Other airlines followed suit, and airport spokesman Steve Snyder said only a few taxis and shuttles were on the road.

Residents were advised not to travel in Cheyenne, where the wind-driven snow piled into deep drifts and forced all state offices, schools and the U.S. Postal Service to close. Francis E. Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne was closed to all but essential personnel.

The storm shut a 150-mile stretch of Interstate 80 and 70 miles of Interstate 25, as well as a 130-mile section of Interstate 90 in northeastern Wyoming. Only one road was open into Laramie, but it was recommended only for essential travel.

Blowing snow and slippery pavement also closed sections of I-25 in northeastern Colorado and Interstate 70 west of Denver, the Colorado State Patrol said.

Winter storm warnings were posted for much of Wyoming as the storm was expected to drop a foot or more of additional snow in the Cheyenne area and several feet of snow in mountain areas of southeastern, central and northern Wyoming.

Four- and 5-foot drifts already were reported Tuesday in southeastern Wyoming, and the Cheyenne area could easily receive an additional 18 inches of snow by today, said Bill Parker, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

In Colorado, drifts up to 12 feet high were reported in the foothills southwest of Denver, the Weather Service said. Loveland Pass was closed by an avalanche.