UPDATE: Glenwood Canyon reopens around 10 p.m. Wednesday
Another round of possibly heavy rain in forecast into Wednesday night
UPDATE 10:04 P.M.: After being closed for more than 24 hours, Interstate 70 reopened in both directions through Glenwood Canyon on Wednesday night.
A flash flood watch was in effect for the Grizzly Creek burn scar area until midnight, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS’s Grand Junction office is forecasting another round of possibly heavy rainfall over the burn area, “which may lead to flash flooding and debris flows.”
Glenwood Canyon closed about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday after the five mudslides. I-70 was closed between the West Rifle and Dotsero exits.
Monsoon season is in full effect throughout Colorado, including along I-70, making it prudent that travelers remain aware of weather conditions over the next seven to 10 days, according to a news release from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
“There are three slides on eastbound I-70, at Mile Points 127.5 to 128.5, that consist mostly of water and soupy mud,” a Wednesday afternoon release stated. “A fourth slide on westbound lanes is located from Mile Points 130.5 to Exit 129 (Bair Ranch) and has more solid material, including small rocks. A fifth slide took place on the Bair Ranch exit off-ramp. It also contains more solid material with small rocks.”
The weather services says the possible slow moving storms have the ability to drop significant amounts of precipitation.
“This afternoon, forecasters are monitoring storms building south of I-70 and across Colorado’s mountains,” the CDOT release states. “Weather forecasters are also monitoring potential impacts for several burn areas including Grizzly Creek, Cameron Peak and East Troublesome burn scars.”
Transportation officials are closing I-70 through Glenwood Canyon when a flash flood warning is in effect in the area because of concerns from the 2020 wildfire, which burned more than 32,600 acres around the canyon.
