U.S. Highway 550 at Red Mountain Pass will remain closed until further notice as avalanche danger and adverse winter weather conditions have made driving the treacherous mountain road too dangerous.
The Colorado Department of Transportation closed the road at 7 a.m. Tuesday between mile markers 79 and 82, effectively closing the route between Silverton and Ouray, for avalanche mitigation work.
“Adverse weather conditions including high winds, blowing snow, low visibility and high accumulations of snow, have made avalanche mitigation operations impossible to perform,” CDOT said in a statement.
CDOT said 18 inches fell within just a couple of hours Tuesday, and for safety reasons, crews were forced to vacate the pass.
As a result, the department announced Tuesday afternoon the mountain pass would remain closed through the night, and until further notice, drivers should use an alternate route, such as Colorado Highway 145 between Dolores and Telluride.
There is no anticipated time for reopening.
U.S. Highway 160 at Wolf Creek Pass reopened after it was shut down for avalanche work Tuesday morning.
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, chain and traction laws were lifted for Coal Bank and Molas passes, but still in effect for Lizard Head Pass between Rico and Telluride.
A winter weather advisory expired 5 p.m. Tuesday for areas around Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, Cortez, Mancos, Pagosa Springs and Dove Creek.
Another 1 to 3 inches was expected fall throughout the day Tuesday, bringing storm totals up to 6 inches at lower elevations.
By 4 p.m. Tuesday, it appeared the storm had left the region. The chance for light snow remains until Wednesday, with Thursday and Friday forecast to be clear, according to the National Weather Service.
Despite the storm, no school districts in La Plata County reported delays.
Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 schools were closed for in-person learning Tuesday because of icy roads and blowing snow.
In the high country of the San Juan Mountains, snow was expected to be moderate to heavy Tuesday, with up to 8 inches of new snow in some areas. Storm totals are expected to reach about a foot.
The storm brought a much needed boost to snowpack in Southwest Colorado. As of Tuesday, the Animas, Dolores, San Juan and San Miguel basins were at 88% of historic averages for snowpack for this time of year.
The storm also replenished fresh snow at local ski resorts:
Telluride Ski Resort reported 7 inches of new snow overnight, and 25 inches in the past week, bringing its season total to 153 inches. Telluride currently reports a 43-inch base and 55 inches at the summit.Wolf Creek resort reported zero inches overnight, 29 inches since Sunday and 35 inches in the past week. It has 107 inches at midway and 114 inches of snow at the summit.Purgatory Ski Resort reported 3 inches overnight, 17 inches since Sunday, 25 inches in the past week and 147 inches this season. It has a 55-inch base. All 105 trails and seven of 11 lifts were open Tuesday.
An avalanche warning went into effect for San Juan County on Tuesday morning and remains in effect until Wednesday morning.
jromeo@durangoherald.com Jim Mimiaga and Anthony Nicotera of The Journal contributed to this report.
