High winds, debris forced Interstate 70 to close from Hays, Kansas, to Colorado border
Interstate 70 was closed Wednesday from the Colorado border all the way through Hays, Kansas, due to low visibility and multiple vehicle collisions, according to Kansas Department of Transportation.
The department announced the closure of the I-70 on Twitter around 1 p.m. KDoT officials encouraged commuters to delay any plans of travel until about midnight on Wednesday.
The interstate was closed in both directions, from Russel County, Kansas, to the Colorado state line. People are being warned to look out for blowing dust.
High winds were toppling semis on highways across the state and causing power outages.
Troopers in North Central Kansas were dispatched to help four semi-trucks found over turned as a result of the high winds, according to Trooper Ben Gardner on social media.
One semi-truck was found on I-135 near Southern Saline County
Two more semi-trucks turned over on I-70. One was found near Saline County and the other on an east passing lane in Ellsworth County.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a tornado watch for parts of the Midwest, including areas north of the Kansas City metro.
The National Weather Service in Kansas City issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Kansas and Missouri until 7 p.m.
Here are 29 other roads that were closed as of 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday
- US 50 road closed
- US 56 road closed
- KS 27 road closed
- US 24 road closed
- US 40 road closed
- US 169 in both directions
- US 156 road closed
- US 183 road closed
- US 56 road closed
- US 283 road closed
- US 83 road closed
- KS 96 road closed
- KS 4 road closed
- KS 25 road closed
- KS 19 road closed
- KS 156 road closed
- KS 14 road closed
- KS 26 road closed
- US 36 road closed
- US 54 bridge closed
- KS 23 road closed
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 3:05 PM.
