DENVER (REUTERS) - A dangerous winter storm pummelled parts of the US Rockies and western Plains with heavy snow on Sunday (March 14), shutting down Denver's busy airport and forcing the closure of major highways.

Snowfall accumulations were expected to reach 1 metre or more in high-altitude areas. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, about 65.5cm of snow had fallen by noon, the National Weather Service reported, setting a new two-day record for the city.