DENVER, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Snow and winds paralyzed higher locations in Colorado, officials said Friday, prompting the closure of a stretch of Interstate 80 and several mountain passes.
Meanwhile, the nation's midsection was preparing for another round of arctic air and strong winds, which could bring dangerously cold wind chills and near-blizzard conditions, AccuWeather.com reported.
Winds up to 100 mph caused drifts and whiteouts throughout the closed area in Colorado, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Mindy Crane told The Denver Post.
About 160 travelers were taken to Salvation Army shelters in and around the Vail area.
In Ohio, the Blanchard River spilled over its banks, flooding areas in the northwestern portion of the state, where residents experienced severe flooding in August.
Findlay, Ohio, Fire Chief Tom Lonyo told The (Toledo) Blade the biggest problem facing his crews was the lack of open north-south routes through the city.
"Our biggest concern right now is that the city is split in half, and with the city split in half I've got response-time problems," he said.
The brief cold shot forecast for the northern Plains and the Midwest was expected to move into the Northeast by Sunday, AccuWeather.com said.
