8.15.22, 9:37 pm – I-70 is open between mile markers 133 – 116 westbound; Glenwood Canyon open both directions from Dotsero to Glenwood Springs.

8.15.22, 8:36 pm – STATEWIDE – The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed Interstate 70 Glenwood Canyon due to a Flash Flood Warning issued for the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar and Glenwood Canyon. The warning was announced by the National Weather Service at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 15. As of 6:00 p.m., the warning is in effect until 8:00 p.m. Eastbound and westbound I-70 are closed from Glenwood Springs (exit 116) to Dotsero (exit 133), with a second closure point for westbound traffic at Eagle (exit 140). Eagle County residents will still have access to locations between exits 133 and 140 by using US Highway 6. On the west side of the canyon, motorists continue to have access to Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley

A safety closure of I-70 is necessary as part of safety protocol to protect the traveling public from flash floods and mudslides in Glenwood Canyon. Motorists should monitor weather alerts to see when the Flash Flood Warning ends. The safety closure will continue to be in place until the Flash Flood Warning is lifted. The closure may stay in effect if weather conditions are unpredictable or if flash floods occur.

Motorists should use COtrip.org or CDOT’s free COtrip Planner mobile app to plan an alternate route. The northern alternate route on US Highway 40 is recommended for most motorists. The northern alternate route will require approximately 2.5 hours additional travel time to reach your destination, compared to traveling on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon. Westbound motorists from the Denver metro area can reach the northern route via US Highway 40, Colorado Highway 9 or Colorado Highway 131. (When detouring north onto CO 9, motorists should anticipate construction at exit 205 in Silverthorne.) Travelers can then continue west on US Highway 40 and then south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (exit 90). For eastbound I-70 motorists, a traffic control point is in place at eastbound West Rifle (exit 87) to guide motorists to the northern alternate route. 

Before detouring onto any alternate route, motorists should refer to COtrip.org for the latest road conditions. By traveling on the recommended alternate route, motorists can avoid major delays caused by rough roads and other hazards.

Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

8.15.22, 8:34 am – I-70 is open at 116 eastbound, Glenwood Springs, westbound at Dotsero is still closed.

National Weather Service

Central Colorado River Basin-Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys-Flat Tops
736 PM MDT Mon Aug 15 2022

FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE GRIZZLY CREEK FIRE BURN AREA IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT…

• WHAT…Flash flooding and debris flows caused by excessive rainfall are possible over the Grizzly Creek Fire Burn Area.
• WHERE…Portions of northwest Colorado and west central Colorado, including the following areas, in northwest Colorado, Flat Tops. In west central Colorado, Central Colorado River Basin and Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys.
• WHEN…Until Midnight MDT tonight.
• IMPACTS…Heavy rainfall over the Grizzly Creek Fire Burn Area is expected up to and during the period of the watch. Residents near the Grizzly Creek Fire Burn Area should prepare for potential
  flooding impacts. Be sure to stay up to date with information from local authorities. Heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas, urbanized street flooding, and debris flows in and near recent wildfire burn scars.
• ADDITIONAL DETAILS
• National Weather Service Meteorologists are monitoring the potential for heavy rainfall over the Grizzly Creek Fire Burn Area, which may lead to flash flooding and debris flows.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Colorado Department of Transportation

8.15.22, 6 pm – STATEWIDE – The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed Interstate 70 Glenwood Canyon due to a Flash Flood Warning issued for the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar and Glenwood Canyon. The warning was announced by the National Weather Service at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 15. As of 6:00 p.m., the warning is in effect until 8:00 p.m. Eastbound and westbound I-70 are closed from Glenwood Springs (exit 116) to Dotsero (exit 133), with a second closure point for westbound traffic at Eagle (exit 140). Eagle County residents will still have access to locations between exits 133 and 140 by using US Highway 6. On the west side of the canyon, motorists continue to have access to Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley

A safety closure of I-70 is necessary as part of safety protocol to protect the traveling public from flash floods and mudslides in Glenwood Canyon. Motorists should monitor weather alerts to see when the Flash Flood Warning ends. The safety closure will continue to be in place until the Flash Flood Warning is lifted. The closure may stay in effect if weather conditions are unpredictable or if flash floods occur.

Motorists should use COtrip.org or CDOT’s free COtrip Planner mobile app to plan an alternate route. The northern alternate route on US Highway 40 is recommended for most motorists. The northern alternate route will require approximately 2.5 hours additional travel time to reach your destination, compared to traveling on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon. Westbound motorists from the Denver metro area can reach the northern route via US Highway 40, Colorado Highway 9 or Colorado Highway 131. (When detouring north onto CO 9, motorists should anticipate construction at exit 205 in Silverthorne.) Travelers can then continue west on US Highway 40 and then south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (exit 90). For eastbound I-70 motorists, a traffic control point is in place at eastbound West Rifle (exit 87) to guide motorists to the northern alternate route. 

Before detouring onto any alternate route, motorists should refer to COtrip.org for the latest road conditions. By traveling on the recommended alternate route, motorists can avoid major delays caused by rough roads and other hazards.

Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

8.15.22, 5:18 pm – I-70 is closed between mile-markers 116 and 133 both directions, Glenwood Springs to Dotsero, due to a flash flood warning.

National Weather Service

8.15.22, 5:20 pm – Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
520 PM MDT Mon Aug 15 2022

Map of flash flood warning area

The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a

• Flash Flood Warning for…
  Southeastern Garfield County in west central Colorado…
  North Central Gunnison County in west central Colorado…
  Northwestern Pitkin County in west central Colorado…
• Until 830 PM MDT.
• At 520 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.25 to 0.75
  inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE…Radar.

IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

• Some locations that will experience flash flooding include…Carbondale, Marble and Redstone.

This includes the following highways…Colorado 133 between mile markers 43 and 66.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks.

Colorado Department of Transportation

8.14.22, 10:00 pm – The National Weather Service Flash Flood Warning for I-70 Glenwood Canyon has been lifted, and I-70 is open. Motorists should continue to check weather conditions before traveling through the area. A Flash Flood Watch continues to be in place.

8.14.22, 6:45 pm – Safety closure in place between exit 116 (Glenwood Springs) and exit 133 (Dotsero) STATEWIDE – The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed Interstate 70 Glenwood Canyon due to a Flash Flood Warning issued for the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar and Glenwood Canyon. The warning was announced by the National Weather Service at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 14. As of 6:30 p.m., the warning is in effect until 9 p.m. Like previous safety closures this summer, eastbound and westbound I-70 are closed from Glenwood Springs (exit 116) to Dotsero (exit 133). The safety closure is part of CDOT’s safety protocol to protect the traveling public from flash floods and mudslides in Glenwood Canyon. Motorists continue to have access to Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley. Motorists should monitor weather alerts to see when the Flash Flood Warning ends. The safety closure will continue to be in place until the Flash Flood Warning is lifted. The closure may stay in effect if weather conditions are unpredictable or if flash floods occur. Motorists should use COtrip.org or CDOT’s free COtrip Planner mobile app to plan an alternate route. The northern alternate route on US Highway 40 is recommended for most motorists. The northern alternate route will require approximately 2.5 hours additional travel time to reach your destination, compared to traveling on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon. Westbound motorists from the Denver metro area can reach the northern route via US Highway 40, Colorado Highway 9 or Colorado Highway 131. (When detouring north onto CO 9, motorists should anticipate construction at exit 205 in Silverthorne.) Travelers can then continue west on US Highway 40 and then south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (exit 90). For eastbound I-70 motorists, a traffic control point is in place at eastbound West Rifle (exit 87) to guide motorists to the northern alternate route. Motorists continue to have access to Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley. Before detouring onto any alternate route, motorists should refer to www.cotrip.org for the latest road conditions. By traveling on the recommended alternate route, motorists can avoid major delays caused by rough roads and other hazards.

Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

8.14.22, 6:17 pm: I-70 is closed between mile-markers 116 and 131 both directions, Glenwood Springs canyon, due to a flash flood warning.