Wolf Creek Pass closed Friday morning for blizzard conditions around the high mountain pass east of Pagosa Springs. It reopened at 1:30 p.m.
The pass was closed from Treasure Falls, mile post 159, to South Fork, mile post 186, said Lisa Schwantes, Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman.
The National Weather Service winter storm warning for Southwest Colorado is in effect until 5 p.m. Friday, and meteorologists forecast the storm will be east of the pass by 8 p.m.
CDOT has not received any crash reports, Schwantes said.
“Travel could be treacherous at times in the mountains in the higher passes through this evening,” said Matthew Aleksa, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
The weather system is moving quickly. As bands of snow move through the area, heavy snow and high wind speeds have decreased visibility to a quarter mile or less, he said.
On high mountain passes, winds have been recorded at 50 mph or higher, and they could climb above 60 mph during the afternoon. Valleys will not see much snow accumulation, but wind gusts have reached 30 to 50 mph in some areas, Aleksa said.
After this winter storm passes through the region, it should be mostly sunny and dry this weekend, he said.
smullane@durangoherald.com
