Dangerous winter storm batters western U.S. as airport, highways shut down

DENVER - A dangerous winter storm pummeled parts of the U.S. Rockies and western Plains with heavy snow on Sunday, shutting down Denver's busy airport and forcing the closure of major highways.

Snowfall accumulations were expected to reach 3 feet (1 meter) or more in high-altitude areas. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, about 26 inches (65.5 cm) of snow had fallen by noon, the National Weather Service reported, setting a new two-day record for the city. "STAY HOME. YOU WILL BE STRANDED!" the agency's Cheyenne office posted on Twitter.