This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Denver • A strong storm system dropping light snow on Denver was making travel hazardous as it headed east Wednesday morning, menacing the Plains with heavy snow and threatening turbulent weather — even tornadoes — in Iowa, Missouri.
Colorado troopers reported several crashes on windy, icy Interstate 25 near the Wyoming border, and flights have been canceled at Denver International Airport.
Airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said airlines canceled about 50 flights in anticipation of the bad weather — just a small portion of the airport's 1,500 daily flights. He said ground crews have been able to keep up with the snow. The FAA was slowing morning flights into Denver to spread out traffic and avoid longer delays.
National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Dankers said up to 12 inches have been reported in the Rockies and around 3 inches fell on Denver. The Denver total could hit 4 inches by the time the system leaves the area.
Forecaster Jared Guyer with the weather service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, said the back side of the fast-moving system will run into more cold air over Kansas and Nebraska, leaving behind up to 8 inches in some spots.
A winter storm warning or blizzard warning was in effect for parts of Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas through Wednesday afternoon and evening in some places. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph were expected, with gust up to 55 or even 60 mph.
The weather service cited the potential for white-out conditions and urged people to stay home.
A day earlier, up to 18 inches of wet, heavy snow fell in Nevada, shuttering schools in Reno and knocking out power to thousands.
At Pi Kappa Cino Coffee in Sterling, Colorado, workers on Tuesday were checking their heaters and stocking up on coffee to handle the first significant snowfall of the season.
"We always try to keep prepared for the winter, keeping extra water on hand and checking the heaters," owner Patricia Prescott said. "Business normally picks up because everyone wants our warm drinks."
Forecaster Guyer said as the massive system spreads east, its southern portion will run into warmer, humid air, raising the potential for severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes.
"It's definitely a chance of severe weather, a severe weather risk no doubt worth paying attention to," he said.
"November has a history of producing some significant weather events. We will have to keep an eye on things," said Greg Carbin, warning coordination meteorologist at the Storm Prediction Center.
The Storm Prediction Center cautioned 54 million people to be alert for severe weather Wednesday.