DENVER (CBS) -- A massive snowstorm is hitting the Denver, Colorado area canceling hundreds of flights. More than a foot has already fallen and a lot more is expected. By the time it ends Saturday, it could be one of the biggest snowstorms the mile-high city has ever seen.
A major snowstorm is shutting down highways in parts of Colorado. More than a foot of snow has fallen since the storm started Thursday evening.
Strong winds are adding to the dangers making conditions difficult for emergency crews to do their jobs. One person says, "It's really hard for us to get out there, especially due to weather like this. It's very hard for ambulances to truck on those roads."
At Denver International Airport more than 600 flights have already been canceled. One flight passenger says, "I was trying to go to Chicago, says there's a flight available at 5 p.m., but it doesn't look optimistic that it will still say that when 5 p.m. rolls around. Looks like we'll be staying here a good 4 5 hours."
Denver Public Schools are closed, but in Fort Collins where the snow wasn't quite as bad, Colorado State University remained open. One person says, "In two years I've been here, we've never had a snow day."
Forecasters expect another foot of snow to fall before the storm moves out on Saturday, which could make it one of the top ten snowstorms in Denver history.
The storm stretches as far south as New Mexico. Blizzard and winter storm warnings extend into Kansas, Wyoming and Nebraska.