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Parts of Colorado may see more than two feet of snow by the end of St. Patrick’s Day.

Accuweather

Winter and spring collided Sunday as parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Nebraska were blasted with up to 4 feet of snow while Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri braced for heavy rains, high winds, flooding and possible tornadoes.

Cheyenne, Wyoming saw snow totals of 25.8 inches — smashing a previous 2-day record held since 1979, according to the National Weather Service. And more could be coming – the weather service warned some areas could see up to 50 inches of snow and wind gusts of up to 60 mph before the weather eased Monday.

“Historic and crippling winter storms will significantly impact all of southeast Wyoming and the western Nebraska panhandle,” it reported. “Widespread blizzard conditions” were making travel “dangerous or impossible.”

More than 2,000 flights were canceled in and out of Denver alone over the weekend. Many highways and local roads were closed, including a few with “no alternate route advised.”

In Colorado, some areas already had almost 30 inches of snow by noon Sunday. A foot of snow had fallen in Denver, and more was on the way. 

“Total snow accumulations of 12-24 inches for the Interstate 25 corridor and up to 3-4 feet in the northern foothills,” the National Weather Service warned. “Wind gusts of 30-40 mph will cause some blowing and drifting snow.”

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The Colorado Department of Transportation reported a slew of highway closures, including swaths of Interstate 70 that runs east to west across the state. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center set the avalanche risk as high, warning of “very dangerous avalanche conditions.”

“Slow to ramp up Saturday, storm makes itself known on Sunday,” the state Transportation Department tweeted Sunday afternoon. “Return travel from the mountains into #Denver will be extremely challenging Sunday. Motorists please make plans to postpone travel until Monday.”

Major roads southeast of a line that crosses diagonally from the southwest corner of Wyoming to its northeast corner were closed Sunday, including roads in and out of Cheyenne and Casper.

The Associated Press reported that 98 trucks were stranded outside of Cheyenne.

Parts of Texas were in recovery mode after being pounded by tornadoes and heavy storms Friday and Saturday. In Amarillo, dozens of hikers were evacuated from a trail after two possible tornadoes in the area. Randall County Sheriff Christopher Forbis reported hail the size of baseballs.

“Power lines and a cell tower are down,” Amarillo Area Emergency Management Director Chad Orton said. “One house was damaged, but the family was in the basement … there have been no injuries or fatalities.”

More severe weather rolled through Texas and Oklahoma all the way to the Mississippi River on Sunday. The biggest threats were heavy, drenching downpours and damaging winds, AccuWeather said. Parts of Missouri were deluged with 7 inches of rain Saturday, and more was forecast for Sunday.

The National Weather Service in Little Rock, Arkansas, warned that strong and severe storms were possible late Sunday.

“Damaging winds will remain the primary threat, but an isolated tornado cannot be completely ruled out,” the weather service said.

Heavy, gusty storms could shift east into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Monday, AccuWeather said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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