Colorado Hit By Another Big Snowstorm

Some Areas Get More Than 2 Feet, Triggering Hundreds Of Cancellations And Closings

(CBS/AP)  A second snowstorm in a week pounded Colorado, dumping more than 2 feet of snow in the foothills and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and the closure of highways and government offices on Friday.

It's a heavy, wet snow, the kind of snow that makes tree limbs snap and tires sink, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella.

The storm covered an area stretching from the Rocky Mountains into the western Plains. The National Weather Service said it could buffet the region with wind gusts up to 45 mph, whipping heavy snow into blinding whiteouts. Areas west of Denver got 28 inches of snow Thursday. In the city, more than a foot of snow had fallen by Friday morning and another foot was expected.

In Kit Carson County, about 165 miles east of Denver, a tow truck driver was killed after a motorist slid out of control and struck him and his parked truck as he was trying to load a car onto his truck on Interstate 70.

Colorado Gov. Bill Owens again declared a statewide disaster, putting the National Guard on standby.

It will continue to snow across the eastern foothills of the Rockies and western High Plains, varying in intensity from very light to heavy bursts and creating blizzard conditions, says CBS News meteorologist George Cullen. It will continue like this for another 36 to 48 hours. More snow has fallen this month in Denver than all of last year.

While last week's blizzard dumped nearly two feet of snow in about 24 hours, the new storm was expected to bring snow over three days, leaving airlines and city officials confident they can avoid the clogged streets and airport runways that brought the city to a standstill.

Denver International Airport stayed open through Thursday evening, reports Cobiella. The few remaining flights took off on time. Only a handful of passengers stayed the night, to make sure they'd be there on time for morning flights.

With fresh memories of 4,700 stranded holiday travelers and backed-up flights around the country last week, New Year's travelers jammed the airport Thursday trying to get out of Colorado.

Managers at the nation's fifth-busiest airport drew up snowplowing plans, and airlines urged ticket-holders to flee Denver early or delay departures until after the storm.

Denver's largest air carriers, United and Frontier, canceled hundreds of flights before the first flake hit the ground Thursday so their planes wouldn't get stuck in the Mile High City, reports Cobiella.

"Right now we're planning to operate a full schedule starting at noon," Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for United Airlines, said early Friday. Light rail trains, buses and public transit in the metro area planned to run on a regular weekday schedule.

Mill and Ann Younkers arrived hours early to check in for an evening flight back to Naples, Fla. The couple's trip to see their daughter in Denver was delayed three days by the first storm, and they did not arrive until Christmas morning.

Mill Younkers said he was holding a backup reservation for Sunday and was ready to reclaim his rental car if needed.

"You just have to have a good sense of humor and keep your patience," he said. "Try to always have a Plan B."

The airport and airlines called in extra workers, and security lines moved relatively quickly. But long lines formed at ticket counters as travelers tried to adjust their plans. The Frontier line snaked across the cavernous terminal, weaving behind the lines of ticket counters on the other side of the building.

Frontier waived its usual change fee to encourage passengers to catch earlier flights. "Let's try and get as many people out ahead of the storm as we can," Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said.

After running out of bedding for stranded passengers during the first storm, airport managers lined up cots and blankets and urged food vendors to ensure they had plenty of supplies on hand.

Greyhound canceled all trips out of Denver on Friday, and more cancellations could follow over the weekend.

In a double whammy for Denver drivers, the Rock Mountain News reports many gas stations ran out of fuel Thursday, as drivers filled up in anticipation of the storm. Last week's blizzard disrupted tanker deliveries for nearly three days.

Plows drenched Denver streets with de-icer, offices closed early and residents stocked up on groceries.

In New Mexico, the storm forced officials to close Interstate 40 from Albuquerque to Santa Rosa and Interstate 25 from Bernalillo to Las Vegas, N.M. Numerous crashes were reported along both routes, state officials said.

Residents of Cheyenne, Wyo., also braced for the second snowstorm to hit the area in a week. Heavy snow began falling around dusk, and forecasters said up to a foot was expected.

[bluestardad]

Big Yippy Skippy

[perception5]

Yeah....Denver's, new all-weather,international airport can handle any weather ....... except snow.....

[snowpatriot]

Hey perception5 have you ever been in two feet of snow? I think DIA did all they could. You think the employees wanted to be stuck at the airport? Please grow up.

[zambeenie]

Well living in Michigan, the last "real" snow we had was back in October. So bring it on. We really wanted white christmas instead of a brown one. Denver is hogging all the snow. Dang 'em anyhow!! LOL

[ssporleder]

Regardinglast week...how in God's name could anyone have been better prepared for such an act of nature?
I was appalled at the attitudes of those that were stuck.
Yeah, no fun for you and no more fun for anyone else in Denver and you added to the stress.