Western U.S. Snowstorms Blamed in Deaths, Injuries; More in Store

A new storm headed into the northwestern U.S. the region shivered in the aftermath of unusually heavy rain and snow that was blamed for at least eight deaths and has caused traffic nightmares and power outages.

The stormy weather has been linked to two deaths in Washington state, five deaths in Colorado and one in Kansas.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for much of Washington state through Friday morning as the system moved across the Midwest. Up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of snow was possible in some portions of eastern Kansas.

Winter storm warnings were issued for much of Washington into Thursday with up to 1 foot (30 centimeters) of new snow possible in the Cascade Range. Up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) was predicted for the central Puget Sound area, including Seattle, the National Weather Service said.

A winter storm that weather officials are calling “very rare” in its makeup blew across Kansas, bringing with it the first significant ice and snow of the season and contributing to a fatal car accident on the Kansas Turnpike that killed one woman.

In Washington state, two 16-year-old boys were found dead Tuesday in a garage, apparently the victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. They apparently were trying to refuel a portable generator used to supply power during a storm-caused blackout, said Jim Borte, a spokesman for the Clallam County sheriff’s office.

In Colorado, at least five people were dead in traffic accidents after a wintry storm dropped up to 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in the mountains and turned the morning commute into an icy crawl for drivers in Denver, Colorado Springs and Boulder on Wednesday.