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Storm blankets Colorado mountains in new snow

The Associated Press
Aspen, CO Colorado
Dan Bayer/Aspen Skiing Co.A skier hits the powder on Aspen Mountain Sunday morning.
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DENVER – Wet, heavy snow has hit the high country.

The National Weather Service reported 11 inches of snow about eight miles east of Steamboat Springs and 10 inches in parts of Eagle and Summit counties Sunday morning. The Aspen Skiing Co. reported 12 to 13 inches on its four ski areas early Sunday.

In southwest Colorado, three sections of U.S. 550 were closed Sunday morning due to avalanches. Adverse conditions temporarily closed U.S. 6 over Loveland Pass and a section of U.S. 285 over Kenosha Pass.



Nearly all Colorado ski resorts reported fresh snow Sunday. Silverton Mountain reported 17 inches of new snow over the last 24 hours at the ski area, Telluride ski area reported 16, and Crested Butte reported 15.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center had avalanche warnings out for a large swath of the north-central mountains stretching from the Steamboat Springs area to the Rio Grande National Forest and including the Colorado Springs area.




For the eastern plains, air quality officials warned of blowing dust. Gusts of 63 mph were recorded on parts of the plains Sunday morning.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, issued Tuesday, showed parts of northwest Colorado as abnormally dry and portions of southeast Colorado experiencing moderate to severe drought. Forecasters say it appears more snow could be on the way to the mountains in the next week.