Winter Storm State-by-State: Schools Closed, Thousands Lose Power in Nevada; Dozens of Flights Canceled in Denver

A mid-week winter storm brought the first snowy punch of the season to some parts of the West and Plains, dumping more than a foot of snow in some areas.

The storm created travel problems in parts of Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas 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.

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Here's the latest from the states affected by this winter storm.

Colorado

In the higher elevations, some areas received at least a foot of new snow from this storm. According to National Weather Service storm reports, 12 inches or more fell in Trout Lake, Columbine Pass and areas near La Plata and Pingree Park.

More than 50 flight cancelations were reported Wednesday at Denver International Airport, according to FlightAware. Several school districts in eastern Colorado canceled classes Wednesday as blowing snow conditions became dangerous for drivers.

The airport officially received 2.3 inches of snow from this system, according to local storm reports.

Local businesses also stocked up 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."

The heavy snow was a welcomed sight at the state's ski resorts, some of which were able to open for the first time Wednesday, the Denver Post reported.

"We love when we get help from Mother Nature in that area, though," Copper Mountain Ski Resort's Morgan Whitehouse told the Post. "It really was a powder day out there."

Kansas

Northwestern Kansas got its first snow of the season from this system, and there were some problems on state roadways. Winds gusted as high as 50 mph as the snow fell, creating poor driving conditions, the Wichita Eagle reported.

The wintry weather also led to school closures in Goodland on Wednesday, the report added.

For the most part, snow totals were fairly small, and blizzard conditions were not widespread.

“Was it a blizzard? It was pretty low-end if it was, and pretty isolated,” NWS meteorologist Jerry Killingsworth told the Wichita Eagle. “We’ve certainly seen much worse.”

Nebraska

Icy and slushy roadways led to some accidents across western Nebraska, the state highway patrol told the AP, but there were no injuries reported.

Plow trucks worked all day Wednesday 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.

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.

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Though most of the snow had melted in the valleys by Tuesday night, officials warned refreezing was possible on roadways, which could lead to icy conditions Wednesday morning, the AP report added.

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."