Dangerous winter storm pummels parts of United States Rockies and western Plains

A dangerous winter storm pummeled parts of the United States Rockies and western Plains with heavy snow. It shut down Denver’s busy airport and forced the closure of major highways. Snowfall accumulations were expected to reach one meter or more in high-altitude areas. 

The deteriorating conditions forced Denver International Airport, the nation’s fifth-busiest airport, to close all six of its runways, officials said. The airport



recorded more than 48 cm of snow. The closure will have minimal impact on airport operations, as more than 2,000 weekend flights were already canceled, including 1,346 on Sunday. The heavy and wet snow was threatening trees and power lines.

The system bringing blizzards to the Rockies was also responsible for severe thunderstorms in Texas, including reports of multiple tornadoes in the Texas Panhandle.