DENVER—A slow-moving storm has dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of Colorado and Wyoming, with up to 3 feet expected in some areas by Saturday night.
The wet, heavy snow closed parts of two interstate highways, canceled flights and injured a snowplow operator in southwest Colorado. The snowy mess also detoured a prisoner convoy headed to Wyoming.
A 30-mile stretch of Interstate 25 was closed today between Wellington (Colo.) and Cheyenne, but was reopened by midday.
United Airlines, the dominant carrier at Denver International Airport, canceled at least 76 flights.
Denver and Colorado Springs are expecting 10 to 20 inches of snow by tomorrow night. Forecasters are calling for more than 2 feet of snow in mountain towns higher than 6,000 feet.
Nearly 2 feet has already fallen in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Other reports include 27 inches of snow 7 miles east of Virginia Dale, 25 inches near Buckhorn Mountain in Larimer County, 18 inches near Black Hawk and 17 inches near Evergreen.
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The snow is being welcomed at Colorado’s ski resorts, many of which close for the season this weekend. At Copper Mountain, skiers waited in line for lifts as nearly a foot of new snow fell.
And at Colorado’s most-visited resort, Breckenridge, employees say locals are piling into the resort for a final few runs of the season.
Breckenridge spokeswoman Kristen Petitt says it looks like “a lot of locals called in sick today.”
