Thursday, February 21, 2013

Travelers in northwest Kansas are filling the area's hotels because of the heavy snow and treacherous road conditions from a winter storm.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reported that motels in Ellis, WaKeeney and Oakley were full as of Wednesday night. All three communities are along Interstate 70.

The National Weather Service said more than 10 inches of snow had fallen in parts of northwest Kansas.

At the Econo Lodge in WaKeeney, assistant manager Michael Tidball said Thursday that the 48-room hotel was full by 10 p.m. Wednesday and that most guests were opting to stay an extra day.

He said it was still snowing Thursday morning and road conditions remained slippery. He said travelers reported that snow was freezing on their windshields faster than wipers could keep them clean