Published: November 11,2015
Wednesday morning, travel was not recommended along many of the roads in eastern Colorado as blowing snow reduced visibilities to dangerous levels. Accidents were reported on slick, icy roadways and slow-moving traffic was observed on many highways, including Interstate 70.
(MORE: Blizzard Warnings Posted as Snowy System Pivots From West Into Plains)
Here's the latest from the states affected by this winter storm.
Colorado
In the higher elevations, some areas received far more than that. According to National Weather Service storm reports, at least a foot of snow was reported in Red Mountain Pass, Trout Lake, Columbine Pass and areas near La Plata.
710 AM: Wolf Creek (left) and Monarch Passes snow packed. Images courtesy @ColoradoDOT #cowx
DIA crews are equipped with over 300 units designed for roads and parking lots, as well as airside snow removal equipment, according to KUSA. Airline passengers should arrive at least two hours before departure time.
Kyle Lester, director of maintenance operations with the Colorado Department of Transportation, told local media, "We’re ready to keep the roads open and safe, with our crews working around the clock until the storm has passed."
The airport officially received 2.3 inches of snow from this system, officials at the hub said.
Local businesses were also getting ready for the storm. At Pi Kappa Cino Coffee in Sterling, Colorado, workers were checking heaters and preparing for an increase in business as the snow got closer.
"We always try to keep prepared for the winter, keeping extra water on hand and checking the heaters," owner Patricia Prescott told the Associated Press. "Business normally picks up because everyone wants our warm drinks."
Nebraska
Icy and slushy roadways have led to some accidents across western Nebraska, the state highway patrol told the AP, but there have been no injuries reported.Plow trucks worked Wednesday morning to keep roads open, according to Alan Salyards, who owns the Flying J Travel Plaza near Big Springs, along the Colorado border.
"The drivers are just doing their normal thing," he told the AP.
As much as a half-foot of snow fell Wednesday morning in northwestern Nebraska, and there was one report of blizzard conditions near Grant late in the morning.
(MORE: Blizzard Facts and Myths)
Nevada
Along the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada mountains, as much as a foot and a half of snow fell in western Nevada. This led to school closures, and the heavy, wet snow knocked out power to more than 36,000 customers in northern Nevada, the AP reported. Some 36 hours later, 2,000 customers remained without power, the AP added.Inclement road conditions triggered multiple car accidents, as Reno Police Sgt. Zack Thew told the Reno Gazette-Journal, “We’ve definitely seen increased accidents as a result of the road conditions.” One incident resulted in the hospitalization of a motorist who lost control of their vehicle, skidding off the road.
(MORE: 5 Winter Safety Tips for Spending Time Outdoors)
The storm brought much-needed early-season snow to an area that's been in the grip of a severe drought for several years. According to the National Weather Service, it was one of the biggest snow totals seen from any single storm in years.
"That one-and-a-half foot amount, that's very unusual for us," National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Mittelstadt told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "We've had four years of drought, and most of the storms we've had were warm."
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