Posted on 12/20/2006 12:59:25 PM PST by george76
A major snowstorm blew across Colorado toward the Plains on Wednesday, canceling hundreds of airline flights for holiday travelers and shutting down major highways in parts of four states.
The National Weather Service posted blizzard warnings for most of eastern Colorado and adjoining sections of Nebraska and Kansas.
A day earlier, the storm had pummeled New Mexico with up to a foot of snow.
Two feet of snow was possible in the foothills just west of Denver, with 2 to 3 feet a possibility farther north.
Up to 20 inches could accumulate on the Plains of eastern Colorado and wind up to 30 mph could pile the snow into high drifts...
"I'm going to grab my computer, talk to my boss and go back home,"... "I'm not going to take a risk and get stuck in Denver."
United Airlines, the busiest carrier at Denver International Airport, canceled more than 630 flights ...
Police closed Interstate 70 for more than 250 miles from just east of Denver to Colby, Kan., and sections of I-80 along a 140-mile stretch from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Big Springs, Neb...
"Crashes are beginning to occur," said Mary Jo Hall of the Nebraska Department of Roads.
Travelers stalled by the closures had already started filling Kansas motels during the morning, said Stan Whitley, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
Truckers were pulling off I-80 at Ogallala, Neb. "Our parking lot is pretty small, but they're just kind of parked off on the streets," said cashier Michelle Krauter at the Sapp Brothers truck stop.
Scores of schools were closed, along with many courthouses in eastern Colorado.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
If we're lucky, you may get to see the space shuttle overhead if they land it at White Sands!
I read about that in the Las Cruces paper this morning. We had thought about going out to White Sands to watch it come in, if that is where they land. However, it sounds like from where public parking is allowed, you wouldn't even be able to see it land, and that while you could see the approach, it would only appear as a "streak" as the paper put it. Plus, after I left my earlier comment, I got a call from my mother-in-law that she had been broadsided in an accident while out running errands. Hopefully there is nothing seriously wrong, but she has pain in her hip and down her leg, and they put a neckbrace on her. We were told they were going to do x-rays. So, we're just hanging out and waiting for word from her husband. We have young children, otherwise we'd go to the hospital. For now, we'll just wait and see.
No decision yet on the shuttle landing, but White Sands is nice to visit especially in the winter. Sorry about your MIL; hope she is o.k.
Thanks for your reply. My MIL does seem to be more or less, ok. She has some pain, but will be able to celebrate Christmas as planned. We will continue our travels tomorrow, as all of us head over to the Phoenix area to meet up with the rest of the in-laws for Christmas. Hope you and yours have a very blessed Christmas!
Gosh, that's a long way to drive. Next time you should think about flying. You might be able to get some good connections if you fly through Denver.
(/sar)
Merry Christmas!!
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