Weather

As heatwaves and wildfires scorch parts of the West, a new survey shows most Americans have recent experiences with extreme weather. It also reveals they now support policy changes to address the risk. But the more forceful the policy, the less the support.

Many parts of the West are in for at least a weekend of extreme heat – with daily temperatures exceeding normal readings by as much as 35 degrees. The group Climate Central says that 40 million people in the region are set to experience heat made at least three times more likely by human-caused climate change.

Early predictions point towards a dryer, warmer than normal summer. But a lot can still change — and how much of an influence La Nina will be is hard to say.

New federal climate forecasts show that summer temperatures could be hotter than ever across the United States, especially in the Mountain West region.

Some states, such as Texas and Florida, have banned protections for workers toiling in high heat. But in the West, establishing standards and procedures for extreme heat days is a priority, and not just for those who have to work outside.

The data suggests the West is less impacted by the phenomenon than other regions, but a utility expert suggests the impact could still be quite significant.

A major storm dumped over 4 feet of snow in northern Colorado before ending Friday, leaving thousands without power. The National Weather Service says between 10 and 20 inches fell in the Denver area and the foothills got 2 to 4 feet.

Thousands in Colorado were without power as authorities closed highways and schools during a winter storm that pummeled the Denver area and threatened to drop another half foot there. The severe weather on Thursday and continuing into Friday morning shut down a stretch of Interstate 70, the state's main east-west highway, in the mountains for much of the day, stranding some drivers for hours, mainly because of trucks that got stuck in the snow.

The federal government says this is the nation’s warmest winter on record. And a new study shows human-caused climate change was the driver in many cities, including parts of the Mountain West region.

A major snowstorm is dumping heavy snow in Colorado, with some spots outside of Denver getting double-digit amounts.