High Wind in Denver Metropolitan Area, Colorado

High winds combined with fresh snow from previous days caused slick roads and near whiteout conditions as localized ground blizzards developed. One person was injured in Summit County when she drove off Interstate 70 in whiteout conditions. Strong winds blew snow across the runways at Centennial Airport which glazed over and formed areas of black ice. Two planes were damaged when they slid off the runway while landing. No injuries were reported. Numerous accidents were also reported on Interstates 25 and 70 as black ice formed under the same conditions. High winds were also attributed to a rollover accident along Highway 93 near the Rocky Flats Environmental Test Facility. Four people were injured in the accident.High wind reports included: 95 mph (83 kts) 4 miles northwest of Fort Collins, 86 mph (75 kts) at Golden Gate Canyon, 80 mph (70 kts) at Loveland Ski Area, 74 mph (64 kts) at Livermore, 72 mph (63 kts) 8 miles west of Conifer, 70 mph (61 kts) at the NCAR facility, in the foothills southwest of Boulder, and at Jefferson County Airport, 68 mph (59 kts) 4 miles east of Haxtun and 58 mph (50 kts) at Limon.