Winter Storm

Winter Storm Ajax, the First Named Winter Storm of the Season, Brings Blizzard Conditions to High Plains

Winter Storm Ajax delivered a crippling combination of snow and wind to parts of the High Plains from late Nov. 16 into early Nov. 18. The storm also dumped snow from California's Sierra Nevada into the Rockies Nov. 15-16. The storm dumped more than a foot of snow in some locations with wind gusts topping 60 mph.

(MORE: Winter Storm Ajax Impacts/Photos)

Long stretches of major interstates were shut down by Ajax, one wreck triggered a jam of at least 100 stranded vehicles, and flights were cancelled out of Denver International Airport Nov. 17.

(MORE: The Science Behind Naming Winter Storms)

As expected, an impressive contrast in conditions was observed from west to east across the Denver metropolitan area Nov. 17, ranging from flurries and light snow with roads barely wet near Boulder, to heavy snow near Denver International Airport.

A 174-mile stretch of I-70 from E-470 to Goodland, Kansas, was closed Nov. 17 due to local whiteout conditions. A 55-mile stretch of I-25 was also shut down in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, due to icy roads and spinouts. A number of other U.S. and state roads were also closed Tuesday morning in Colorado and New Mexico.

The warm side of Ajax also triggered a tornado outbreak in parts of the Plains.

(MORE: Tornado Outbreak in the Plains)

Ajax Snow, Wind Reports

Here are storm total snowfall reports from Ajax. The map below shows the estimated snowfall totals from Ajax in the areas that were affected.

California: Kingvale (10 inches); Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (8-12 inches); Kirkwood Ski Resort (14 inches); Squaw Valley Ski Resort (11 inches)Nevada: Near Lamoille (21.7 inches at 9200 feet elevation); near McGill, Nevada (15 inches); Jiggs (12 inches)Arizona: North-northwest of Flagstaff (11 inches)Utah: Alta (15 inches); Mount Pleasant (10 inches); Fairview (10 inches); Park City (7.6 inches)Colorado: Monument (30 inches with 3-4 foot drifts); Red Mountain Pass (28 inches); Telluride (12 inches); Near Aurora (up to 10 inches); Denver Int'l Airport (4 inches)New Mexico: Ski Santa Fe (29 inches); Red River Ski (15 inches); Taos (9 inches); Albuquerque heights/northeast metro (up to 7 inches) Wyoming: One observer northeast of Cheyenne reported 4 inches; officially, Cheyenne came in with 2 inches.Nebraska: McCook (6 inches); Cambridge (3 inches)Kansas: Colby (20 inches), Atwood (19.5 inches)Texas: Texline (4 inches)Oklahoma: Boise City (6 inches)

Ajax Snowfall Reports
The contour shows estimated snowfall amounts from Ajax Nov. 15-18, 2015. Plotted values are actual snow totals from National Weather Service reports.

Here are some peak wind gusts reported during Winter Storm Ajax in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska.

La Junta, Colorado: 70 mph (trees reported down)
Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado: 68 mph
Clines Corners, New Mexico: 64 mph
Pueblo, Colorado: 64 mph
Raton, New Mexico: 64 mph
Tribune, Kansas: 63 mph
Lamar, Colorado: 63 mph
Limon, Colorado: 61 mph
Denver International Airport: 58 mph
McCook, Nebraska: 56 mph

These intense winds piled snow drifts up to 4 feet on Monument Hill north of Colorado Springs and 3 feet in Capulin, New Mexico. Power outages were also reported in Kimball and Sidney, Nebraska, as well as surrounding rural areas Tuesday.

The name Ajax is from Greek mythology. Ajax was a hero in Homer’s epic, Iliad, and was known for his strength and courage.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Winter Storm Ajax (PHOTOS)