CHEYENNE, Wyo.—An autumn storm is expected to bring heavy, wet snow and near-blizzard conditions to Wyoming and Colorado.
The storm moved into the region Tuesday as rain and then turned to snow. By Wednesday morning, the weather and multiple accidents had shut down Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne.
Snow was also falling in the Denver area, which could get between 10 and 18 inches before the storm moves out of the area on Thursday. The National Weather Service said 4 feet of snow was possible in parts of the foothills and the mountains to the west of the city.
Between 12 to 18 inches are forecast in the Cheyenne area.
Winds up to 30 mph are expected to cause significant drifting and near-blizzard conditions on the plains.
United Airlines and Frontier Airlines, which both have hubs in Denver, were relaxing some fees for changing travel plans in light of the forecast.
Winter storm warnings were posted for southeast Wyoming, most of Colorado and parts of Nebraska and Utah.
In Colorado, the snow closed and delayed the opening of some schools and postponed a flu clinic. But ski resorts prepared to open more terrain.
Cheyenne already has had a snowy October, with 14 inches so far. The average for the month is 3 inches.
“It’s been a rare October,” said Tim Trudel, a National Weather Service forecaster in Cheyenne.
A storm Oct. 9-10 brought 8 inches to Cheyenne, closing Interstates 80 and 25. The Wyoming Department of Transportation is urging its plow drivers to rest up ahead of this storm, agency spokesman Bruce Burrows said.
“The skier in me is saying, ‘Yeah, bring it on,'” Burrows said. “But it is challenging for our folks.”
