Blizzard dumps heavy snow from Rockies to Upper Midwest

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It's winter and some people are better at it than others. We found one reason why there is such a difference in winter preparedness between the north and south. USA

A blizzard slammed parts of the central United States with heavy snow and howling winds Sunday, wreaking travel havoc from Colorado to Michigan. The storm should continue into Monday, the National Weather Service said.

At least 135 flights were canceled at Denver International Airport Sunday due to the storm, where up to 4 inches of snow was reported.

Crews began working overnight to treat the airport’s surfaces but officials said blowing snow and low visibility is a concern as winds pick up speed, the Associated Press reported.

Up to a foot of snow, with localized amounts up to 18 inches, are expected from the storm by the time it winds down late Monday, according to AccuWeather. The worst conditions were forecast to be in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. 

The weather service in Nebraska warned "travel will be very dangerous to impossible" due to the blizzard. In southern Minnesota," true whiteout conditions" are likely on Monday. 

Increasing winds gusting 40 to 50 mph will also lead to areas of blowing and drifting snow. Roadway visibility could be a quarter of a mile or less at the height of the storm, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. 

Ice may occur prior to, or in lieu of, snow in some communities from north-central Kansas to the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.

The system will also bring a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to parts of northern New England early this week, the Weather Channel said.

The storm, which the Weather Channel has named Winter Storm Jaxon, dumped heavy snow over the western mountains on Saturday — good news for snow-starved ski resorts in Utah, Idaho and Montana.

Up to 18 inches of snow fell in Utah's Wasatch Mountains this weekend.