Counties in northwestern Kansas are facing a strange bout of spring weather.

 

Last week's high winds and dry conditions caused dust storms that prompted the closure of many major roadways and led to a 71-car pile-up on I-70 on Friday. Today, all lanes of I-70 are closed once again, this time from Salina to the Colorado border due to a late season snow storm. The Kansas Department of Transportation advises that accumulating snow and strong winds are causing blizzard conditions and low visibility, hindering travel through western Kansas.

 

US-40 from Sharon Springs to the Colorado border is also closed. US-400 is currently open, but is under a travel alert, while roads in southwest Kansas are listed as partially covered to seasonal.

 

Motorists are also advised NOT to attempt to use secondary roads to avoid the closures. Drivers should delay any non-essential travel through western Kansas until conditions improve.

 

Those planning to travel can get updates on closures and conditions by consulting kandrive.gov or by calling 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside of Kansas.

 

Photo shows conditions on I-70 at Goodland around 6am on 3-19-25. Courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol

 

K-23 in Cimarron today