Hundreds of Flights Canceled after Snowstorms in U.S.

Dec. 21, 2006
National Weather Service posts blizzard warnings for most of eastern Colorado and adjoining sections of Nebraska and Kansas.

DENVER_Heavy snow blew across Colorado on Wednesday, canceling hundreds of airline flights and shutting down a major highway, as a major storm plowed onto the Plains after pummeling New Mexico.

United Airlines, the busiest carrier at Denver International Airport, canceled more than 630 flights for the rest of the day, and Frontier Airlines planned to cancel up to 40 afternoon flights, representatives said.

The National Weather Service posted blizzard warnings for most of eastern Colorado and adjoining sections of Nebraska and Kansas.

Up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) of snow had fallen by the morning rush hour in the Denver area. Two feet (60 centimeters) of snow was possible in the foothills just west of Denver, with 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 centimeters) a possibility farther north. Up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) could accumulate on the Plains of eastern Colorado.

Eastbound Interstate 70 was closed for 90 miles (145 kilometers) from Limon, Colorado, to the Kansas line and police shut down about 60 miles (96 kilometers) of westbound I-70 from Colby, Kansas, to Burlington, Colorado.

The broad storm also spread rain across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska on Wednesday, with snow in western Kansas and Nebraska, where police reported vehicles sliding off I-80 in the Nebraska Panhandle. Ice accumulating on branches and power lines also caused power outages in the area.

The storm rolled into Colorado from New Mexico, where roads around the state were still snowpacked and icy Wednesday. Numerous schools opened late or remained closed.

Albuquerque International airport in New Mexico was closed for several hours Tuesday as snow covered runways.