Blizzard conditions closed Interstate 70 just east of Denver. (October 29, 2009)
The snow and wind created blizzard conditions and forced the closure of several major highways, including Interstate 70 which was shut down from Aurora to the Kansas state line.
Also closed were I-76 from Brighton to Neb., US 34 from Brush to Neb., CO 71 from Neb. to Ordway, CO 61 from Sterling to Otis, and CO 59 between I-76 and Yuma.
LIVE TRAFFIC CAMS & ALERTS
The storm was the biggest October snowmaker in the Denver area since 1997, said Byron Louis, a weather service hydrologist in Boulder. It also broke records for total October snowfall in Wyoming.
"The track of this storm was more indicative of March and April heavy storm event," FOX 31 Chief Meteorologist Dave Fraser said. "A two day event of this magnitude is certainly an oddity for October and may be an indication of the winter to come, which is a scary thought."
18 inches fell in Boulder, 37" in Conifer, 23" in Parker, 16" in Aurora, 43" in Pinecliffe, and 16" in Castle Rock. Denver had received 14 inches of snow by Thursday evening with very little additional accumulation forecast.
Hundreds of schools in metro Denver stayed closed Thursday, but the University of Colorado in Boulder and Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where 17.5 inches fell, reopened a day after sending students home early.
Many schools opted to close Friday as well, however, some administrators planned to wait until morning to gauge conditions.
VIEW CURRENT CLOSINGS/DELAYS
Denver-based Frontier Airlines canceled 44 flights in and out of Denver International Airport due to "ground blizzard" conditions. Other flights were delayed by up to four hours. United Airlines, the airport's dominant carrier with about 400 flights per day, canceled half its flights Thursday to prevent delays and cancelations from spilling over into Friday, spokesman Charlie Hobart said.
Airport spokesman Chuck Cannon said crews were using 174 pieces of snow-removal equipment to keep runways and taxiways clear as they dealt with severe wind gusts. The airport received at least 16 inches of snow with 5-foot snow drifts east of Denver, the weather service said.
"It drifts and it blows and it cuts visibility. It just creates problems and safety is the big issue." Cannon said. Travelers were urged to check flight status with their airlines before driving to DIA.
A Blizzard Warning was in effect for northeastern Colorado through 9 a.m. Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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