The Nation : Snow, High Winds Hit Parts of Rockies

A major storm struck parts of the Rockies, piling snow up to 12 inches deep and whipping wind up to 60 m.p.h., triggering a blinding dust storm blamed for two fatal traffic pileups. Northwestern Wyoming got 8 inches of wet snow, closing the eastern and southern entrances to Yellowstone National Park. South of the park, 5 inches of snow was reported at Moose and Jackson, where wet snow accumulating on power lines caused some blackouts, the National Weather Service said. Up to 12 inches of snow was reported in south-central Montana. In eastern Colorado, 50-m.p.h. winds spawned the dust storm, which dropped visibility to zero and caused the pileups on Interstate 70 near Seibert. Two motorists were killed and 17 hurt.