Update 7:15 p.m. Tuesday: The following roads remained closed due to dangerous conditions Tuesday evening:
- U.S. 6 in both directions over Loveland Pass from I-70 to Montezuma Road; and
- U.S. 40 in both directions over Berthoud Pass from Berthoud Falls to Mary Jane ski area due to an avalanche that trapped multiple vehicles.
Two additional snow bank slides came down onto U.S. 40 on Tuesday afternoon and crews will continue working overnight to clear the road and reduce avalanche danger, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Update 8:10 a.m. Tuesday: The following roads were closed due to dangerous conditions Tuesday morning.
- U.S. 6 in both directions over Loveland Pass from I-70 to Montezuma Road;
U.S. 40 in both directions over Berthoud Pass from Berthoud Falls to Mary Jane ski area due to an avalanche that trapped multiple vehicles; - U.S. 550 in both directions from Silverton to Ouray over Red Mountain Pass;
- U.S. 285 in both directions from Colorado 9 to Geneva Creek in Fairplay;
Colorado 14 and Colorado 125 have reopened since Tuesday evening.
Previous reporting
Heavy snow and high winds are contributing to several road closures in the Colorado mountains and the Front Range on Monday, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
“Motorists are likely to encounter blowing snow, limited visibility, sub-freezing wind chills and difficult travel conditions in the mountains for the next several days. Due to the expected wind and snow, delays are likely for avalanche control operations,” CDOT warned in an advisory.
Up to two feet of snow was expected along the I-70 corridor from Vail to the Eisenhower Tunnel and accumulations could reach up to 40 inches along U.S. 40 near Rabbit Ears Pass.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Boulder expected Tuesday to be a dry day in the mountains, but high winds could still cause dangerous conditions and blowing snow.
Locally whiteout conditions were also possible, as NWS Boulder reported on Colorado 93 between Golden and Boulder, though the road was still open.
Windy conditions are producing locally whiteout conditions along Highway 93 between Golden and Boulder. If you can, avoid/delay traveling on Highway 93 this morning. #cowx pic.twitter.com/GPUHBcoR0A
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) January 16, 2024
Monday story: CDOT said the following roads have been closed due to adverse conditions or safety concerns as of Monday evening:
- U.S. 6 in both directions over Loveland Pass from I-70 to Montezuma Road;
- U.S. 40 in both directions over Berthoud Pass from Berthoud Falls to Mary Jane ski area;
- U.S. 550 in both directions from Silverton to Ouray over Red Mountain Pass;
- Colo. 14 in both directions from Colo. 125 to west of Kinikinik, including Cameron Pass; and
- Colo. 125 in both directions from Wyoming to Granby.
Berthoud Pass will remain closed overnight Monday due to avalanche danger, according to CDOT.
Travelers should expect delays Monday and Tuesday for winter maintenance and snow removal operations on roads that are open, including I-70, U.S. 40 and U.S. 50. Most mountain passes currently require chains for commercial vehicles.
Avalanches are another risk motorists should be aware of given the heavy snow this past weekend. A “bank slide” engulfed nearly a dozen vehicles and closed Berthoud Pass on Sunday morning. The vehicles were freed after about an hour.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has issued a special advisory for dangerous avalanche conditions on the holiday weekend, especially in Colorado’s northern and central mountains.
This is a developing story.
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