Colorado: winter storm drops 18 inches of snow

A powerful storm system that dropped 18 inches (46 centimeters) of snow on the ski town of Breckenridge was expected to stall over Colorado through Tuesday, socking some mountain areas with up to 4 feet (1.2 meters), forecasters said.

The storm stranded travelers Sunday on a highway in the central mountains and knocked out electricity to about 2,000 people. Power had been restored Monday.

The National Weather Service predicted 4 feet (1.2 meters) of snow in the Wet Mountains, and 10 inches to 20 inches (25 to 51 centimeters) in two counteis southeast of Denver. Six to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) was expected in the Denver and Boulder areas and 4 inches to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of snow near the Wyoming state line, forecasters said.

Up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) was forecast in Aspen and Vail, with about the same amounts expected in the western mountains. Farther south, in the Wet Mountains, forecasters were expecting up to 4 feet of snow, the AP reports. AM