Colorado Snowed In Again

Over 2 Feet Of Snow Buries Region; More Accumulation Expected

(AP)  Owens said conditions in southeastern Colorado, where the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning, were dangerous. He said the state emergency operations center in Centennial would continue operating through at least noon Saturday depending on weather forecasts and conditions.

About 38,000 customers of Xcel Energy lost power at some point since the storm began Thursday, the utility said. Power had been restored to most customers by early Friday, spokesman Mark Stutz said.

While more snow was expected across wide swaths of the state, some agencies expected to avoid the problems that came with last week's blizzard, which dumped nearly 2 feet of snow in about 36 hours, virtually paralyzing the region and shutting down Denver's airport for 45 hours.

"Compared to the last snow, this is very, very different," said Scott Reed, spokesman for the Regional Transportation District that operates public transit for the six-county Denver metro area.

Last week's blizzard shut down bus service for more than a day and reduced light-rail service, but Reed said buses and trains were on a regular schedule Friday.

About 600 people spent the night at Denver's airport, not because they were stranded but because they wanted to get an early start, said airport spokesman Steve Snyder.

United and Frontier Airlines, which account for about 80 percent of traffic at the airport, canceled about 275 of their nearly 1,200 scheduled flights Friday.

Grocery stores around the Denver area were running short on eggs, bread and other staples, and many gas stations were out of some grades of gasoline as supply trucks were slowed by snowpacked and icy highways.

"You can see by the shelves, they're empty," said Ray Kwak, 70, who was shopping at a King Sooper's grocery store in Lakewood. "But they've got enough for us."

King Soopers brought in extra trucks to stock its stores, some of which were still feeling the effects of the last storm, company spokesman Trail Daugherty said.

Greyhound canceled all trips out of Denver on Friday and more cancelations could follow this weekend depending on the weather. The Red Cross said about 250 people were stranded at the bus service's station in downtown Denver, but Greyhound said only 50 stayed at the station. About 90 chose to go to shelters opened by the Red Cross, which housed about 600 people in 26 shelters statewide Thursday night.

Denver authorities, who'd warned they would tow cars parked on the city's snow emergency routes, ended up towing only three or four cars, said mayoral spokeswoman Sue Cobb.

Crews towed only when it was absolutely necessary to get a clear lane, she said.

"Our goal is not really to punish people but to get the streets open," Cobb said.

About 170 public and private vehicles — from plows to trucks fitted with blades — were clearing snow, but Manager of Public Works Bill Vidal said up to 45 percent of neighborhood streets were still waiting for heavy equipment to break through thick ice beneath the snow.