Massive Colorado snowstorm slams drought-stricken region, canceling 2,000 flights
A severe snowstorm in Denver has forced officials to cancel thousands of flights over the weekend.
The region has recently suffered a severe drought, with some parts of the state hit with "abnormally dry" conditions and much of the state suffering severe drought.
The snowstorm will therefore bring much-needed relief, even as it causes havoc for travel across the state.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings, with some areas seeing as much as 9 inches of snow over Saturday night and projections of up to two feet by Monday morning.
Travelers tried to beat the storm, but 750 flights were canceled throughout the day. All Sunday flights have been canceled, totaling over 2,000 flights throughout the weekend.
Denver International Airport is projected to see as much as 27 inches of snow, CBS 4 Denver reported.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 14: Snow falls next to the Colorado State Capitol on March 14, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. More than 1800 flights into and out of Denver have been canceled this weekend and highways around the state have been closed down as a winter
Gov. Jared Polis activated the National Guard ahead of the storm, advising residents to stay home and stay safe.
"Let me advise you -- you don’t want to be one of those people that might have to be search, found and rescued," Polis said. "I encourage you to be at a safe location from shortly after sunrise Saturday through Sunday afternoon if it’s snowing in your area, until conditions become safe."
Transit authorities also closed down roads and highways, with the Colorado Department of Transport asking residents not to make unnecessary trips.
The heavy and wet snow could also cause power outages. Utilities such as Xcel Energy -- which is estimated to serve nearly 1.5 million customers in Colorado -- are signaling to workers to start preparing for a potentially busy weekend.
Authorities are working to keep major roadways like I-70 from closing, but road conditions remain rough.
Denver International Airport advised travelers to double-check the status of their flight before heading to the airport and creating unnecessary traffic and delays.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report