Denver again in storm’s path

Travelers jammed Denver International Airport on Thursday, trying to get out of town as a new snowstorm threatened to close runways and gum up holiday travel for the second time in a week.

By Thursday evening, 8 inches of snow had fallen in the metropolitan area, and snow falling at a rate of 4 inches an hour piled up 18 inches in the foothills west of the city. More than 300 flights were canceled as the storm moved in.

Gov. Bill Owens again declared a state of emergency, a week after a blizzard closed the airport for two days, stranded thousands of travelers and backed up flights nationwide.

The storm system stretched from the Rocky Mountains into the western Plains; winter storm warnings were in effect for Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas.

The Denver airport and airlines called in extra workers, but long lines formed at ticket counters as travelers tried to adjust their plans.