Well, turboprops can’t fly through storms as proven by Mesaba.
They should’a made the pax wait on the tarmac for 4 hours 
Neither can E175’s.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/TCF7596/history/20100714/2320Z/KDEN/KDSM
Usually about a 1 hour, 10 minute flight.
Would’ve been funny if the storm was building farther to the west, and the flight would have to keep going. . . 
How long would it have taken to drive?
About 50 minutes on a freeway.(?) If people knew there was going to be a storm, they would drive.