I-70 reopens in Glenwood Canyon
Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon was closed for about two hours on Tuesday out of continuing safety precautions surrounding the Grizzly Creek Fire burn area.
Tuesday’s was the third such closure in the last nine days as monsoon season hits western Colorado, and flash flooding and mudslides become a concern.
The Grizzly Creek Fire took place in 2020 in Glenwood Canyon, and mudslides in July 2021 closed the interstate for about two weeks as debris covered the roadway.
Tuesday’s flash flood warning came in at 3:13 p.m. with urgent precautions from the National Weather Service, which said heavy rainfall could cause extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks, streams and ditches in the Grizzly Creek Fire burn area.
Heavy debris flow was not reported on Tuesday, and the road reopened at about 5 p.m. with little issue.
Support Local Journalism
The Colorado Department of Transportation will continue to have its I-70 Glenwood Canyon safety protocol in place throughout the summer and fall, which calls for the closing of the interstate in the canyon during periods of heavy rain.
A hazardous weather outlook remains in effect through Monday, with the National Weather Service’s Grand Junction office predicting that residual monsoon moisture will continue to fuel daily showers and thunderstorms through midweek.
“Storm coverage and intensity will taper off later in the week as high pressure builds overhead,” the National Weather Service reported on Tuesday. “Temperatures will gradually warm back to well above normal Thursday onward as high pressure builds overhead. The high looks to weaken late this weekend or early next week, allowing moisture to return by mid next week.”