Politics
Crippling blizzard SLAMS Colorado and culls travel in Wyoming as tempest puts 7M under weather warnings after TX twister
A BLIZZARD has slammed Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska, putting 7million under winter weather alerts hours after a twister hit Texas.
The powerful storm, which the National Weather Service dubbed “historic and crippling,” pummeled the central Rocky Mountain area with heavy snow and wind on Sunday.
Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska were hit with a powerful late winter storm[/caption]
The late-winter storm has led to airport and road closures, power outages and even avalanche warnings in Colorado.
As of Sunday afternoon, Denver International Airport had recorded 19.1inches of snow with more expected, making it the second snowiest March day the area has on record, according to the Associated Press.
Cheyenne, Wyoming had measured a whopping 25.8inches of snow by Sunday afternoon.
Major highways in Wyoming were shut down, and plowing even had to be suspended in the Casper area on Sunday because snow was so heavy and visibility so poor.
Snow removal crews work in front of Colorado’s state capitol on Sunday[/caption]
Violent twisters touched down in Texas on Saturday[/caption]
“We had several plows drive off the roadway due to limited to zero visibility,” the state’s Department of Transportation said.
Boulder, Colorado had recorded 8 to 12 inches of snow, with snow still coming and a blizzard warning in effect through midnight.
Areas north of Boulder could see more than two feet of snow.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said there is a “high” avalanche threat in the Rockies west of Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs.
An avalanche was already blocking Colorado Highway 14 in north-central Colorado on Sunday, according to the Department of Transportation.
The blowing snow has led to horrific travel conditions, leading Denver International Airport to cancel more than 2,000 flights in and out of Denver this weekend.
Heavy snow fell in the Denver area on Sunday[/caption]
Cars are buried under snow in Denver, Colorado[/caption]
The massive storm also caused violent twisters to touch down in parts of Texas on Saturday afternoon, before moving on towards the Rockies and intensifying.
While areas of west Texas remained under tornado watch on Saturday, western parts of the state were at risk of wildfires as a result of the deadly dry air and high wind.
“With hail, tornados, and flash flooding forecasted in our state this weekend, I urge Texans to be cautious and follow guidance from local officials,” Gov Greg Abbott said.
Meteorologists warned of a multi-day threat of severe thunderstorms from parts of the Plains to the Mississippi Valley, expected to produce damaging winds, large hail and strong tornados.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis also urged residents to stay in their homes as he called the Colorado National Guard to respond to search and rescue requests before the storm began pummeling the state.
Colorado was bracing for its “Snowpocalypse” this weekend as Polis said: “Stay home if it’s going to snow hard in your area, so you don’t need them to rescue you.”
Likewise, Colorado State Patrol pleaded with motorists to stay off of the roads during “Snowmaggedon” as one trooper described it on Twitter.
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The NWS also issued blizzard warnings for parts of Wyoming and western Nebraska, where two feet of snow and 65mph winds are expected from Saturday through Monday.
Authorities also urged travelers there to prepare for the worst with supplies and flashlights.
“We’re preparing for a potentially historic winter storm to impact Southeast Wyoming,” agreed Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon on Twitter. “The best option is to stay off the roads this weekend.”
