Denver snowstorm’s effects on Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas expected to be minimal

By Conor Shine

Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 | 1:35 p.m.

A heavy snowstorm that has dumped nearly a foot of snow in the Denver area is causing airline delays and cancellations that could slow the flow of visitors into Las Vegas for Super Bowl weekend.

As of this morning, more than 10 inches of snow had fallen in Denver, with reports of up to 20 inches in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist John Salmen said.

Some flights out of Denver International Airport have been delayed or canceled due to the storm. McCarran International Airport spokesman Chris Jones said Las Vegas has 18 inbound flights a day from Denver.

Jones didn’t have specific numbers on how many flights from Denver to Las Vegas were affected today but said delays at a major hub like Denver International Airport can cause ripple effects at airports throughout the country.

But local officials don’t expect the bad weather in the Midwest to have a big impact on visitors flying into Las Vegas this weekend.

“It may translate into minor inconveniences, but ultimately those travelers will get here,” said Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority spokesman Vince Alberta. “It certainly won’t dampen all the enthusiasm and the big game parties that will take place in Las Vegas this weekend.”

Weather in Colorado is affecting travel plans for the UNLV men’s basketball team, which on Saturday is scheduled to take on the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

The Runnin’ Rebels originally were scheduled to fly into Denver after their practice today. They now plan to fly into Cheyenne, Wyo., then bus to Laramie for the game.

The National Weather Service is forecasting the snowstorm will wind down tonight into Saturday morning.

For Las Vegas, the weekend will bring dry and mostly clear conditions, with afternoon high temperatures hitting the upper 50s on Saturday and possibly reaching 60 degrees on Sunday, Salmen said.