Interstates Close in Colorado, Wyoming as Jupiter Moves East

Eric Chaney and Sean Breslin
Published: January 12,2017
Major roadways have been closed due to the effects of Winter Storm Jupiter, and the impacts are about to ramp up even more.
Plains states are preparing for an ice storm that could leave millions of residents stranded for days. Already, the storm has left thousands without power in the Pacific Northwest and caused major travel problems in the higher elevations.
(MORE: Check the Forecast for Winter Storm Jupiter)
An avalanche briefly closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado Thursday morning, while in Wyoming, nearly 250 miles of Interstate 80 were closed.
More than 36,000 customers lost power in Portland as more than a foot of snow fell in some areas overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Weather conditions also shut down nearly 50 miles of Interstate 84 in the Columbia Gorge east of Portland Wednesday.

Missouri

Gov. Eric Greitens activated the state Emergency Operations Center Thursday as Missourians prepared for major impacts from Jupiter, particularly ice.
"Everyone should be aware that this potential weather event could disrupt travel and cause power outages across the state," Greitens said in a statement.

Oklahoma

Gov. Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency for all counties in the Sooner State as residents prepared for the winter storm's icy side.
"Emergency personnel are coordinating with state and local officials to ensure we are prepared and ready for whatever comes our way," Fallin said in a statement.
(MORE: What Ice Storm Accumulations Mean and How to Stay Safe)
Across northern and central Oklahoma, stores were packed with customers buying necessities as the potentially crippling storm inched closer. Numerous districts – including Oklahoma City Public Schools – will be closed Friday, according to a list compiled by the Oklahoman.

Colorado

The Colorado Department of Transportation briefly closed Interstate 70 westbound at mile marker 215 due to an avalanche that cut off the road west of the Eisenhower Tunnel. According to the DOT, no cars were caught in the slide.
US 6 was closed at Loveland Pass Thursday morning due to avalanche hazard, the Colorado Department of Transportation said.
Officials closed a 56-mile stretch of Highway 125 between Granby and Walden in North Colorado due to adverse weather conditions Wednesday, which remained closed Thursday morning. A stretch of Highway 14 in the same area was closed between US 40 and Gould.
Officials were very worried that the additional snow coming from Jupiter could trigger avalanches in the mountains. In some areas, crews triggered slides Wednesday to make highways safe, and Arapahoe Ski Basin Area was closed temporarily as Loveland Pass was shut down for a controlled avalanche, the AP reported.
Ethan Greene with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center said the avalanche danger was due to high moisture content in the recent snowfall, which is weighing down the snowpack, the report added.

Wyoming

Heavy snow continued in Wyoming on Thursday, and Interstate 80 remained closed throughout the morning. Wyoming DOT officials closed a nearly 250-mile stretch between Rock Springs and Cheyenne Wednesday afternoon due to dangerous driving conditions.

Oregon

The Bend-La Pine School District has closed all its schools for roof assessments after a gymnasium roof collapsed at an elementary school Thursday morning. The school district said on its website that nobody was in the gym when the roof fell at Highland Magnet at Kenton School in Bend.
The sheer mass of snow dumped by the winter storm caused damage to several other buildings in Bend as well.
According to the Bend Bulletin, the roof of a building housing trucks and private recreational vehicle appeared to have collapsed under the weight of 2 feet of snow.  Debris from the collapse was found 100 yards away, according to local fire officials.
(MORE: Storms End Drought in Much of Northern California)
Heavy snow also bowed the wall of a FedEx distribution center, prompting the evacuation and closure of the building, with undelivered packages still inside. An engineer told Bend fire officials that the structure is unsound and a Bend Fire Department spokesman said the building "could literally collapse at any time."
Three visitors were rescued after snowstorms forced them to take refuge in a heated restroom at Crater Lake National Park.
Park officials told the Associated Press a rotary snow plow cleared a path on the three-mile road from park headquarters to Rim Village to reach the visitors Wednesday. Officials say none of them sustained major injuries.
Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon due to the wintry conditions.

Utah

U.S. Highway 89 was closed near the Idaho state line because of an avalanche that blocked the road Wednesday, the AP said. The incident occurred west of the Beaver Mountain turn-off at State Road 243. No injuries were reported in the avalanche, the report added.

Washington

The snow didn’t reach as far north as Seattle, but in the central part of the state, the Grant County Sheriff's Office warned everyone to stay off the roads, as snow drifts of 3 to 5 feet made them impassable, the AP reported.
"There are just too many roads impacted to even begin to describe the impact areas," spokesman Kyle Foreman wrote in a news release. "Deputies are advising motorists stuck in drifts to remain inside their vehicles, turn on their hazard lights and call for a tow truck."
Schools throughout the region canceled classes Wednesday, and numerous government offices were closed.

Idaho 

In Cassia County, commissioners declared a state of emergency because of flooding throughout the county, KIFI reports. Water has entered homes west Highway 81 near Malta. Many streets in Oakley are under water as well.