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SUNDAY WEATHER UPDATES: Garfield Re-2 schools will be online only Monday

Post Independent storm weather alert graphic

UPDATE 9:40 p.m. — Garfield Re-2 schools in New Castle, Silt and Rifle will transition to distance learning on Monday due to the winter storm, the district announced in a letter to parents and the public Sunday night.

“Due to the current and predicted inclement weather conditions, the Garfield Re-2 School District will transition (Monday) to a virtual distance learning day,” the letter states. “With the amount of snow and ice currently on roads, and freezing temperatures expected to continue overnight and tomorrow, Garfield Re-2 felt this was the best decision for the safety of our community.”

All students will be expected to log into their See Saw or Google Classroom accounts to receive instruction from their teachers for the day, the letter stated.



All teachers will be teaching from home, unless they can safely travel to their classroom. Teachers will be in touch with students throughout the day.

“This is a regular school day … teachers will be taking attendance,” the letter advises.



UPDATE 9:15 p.m. — The weather-related Interstate 70 closure has been expanded Sunday night to include all of Garfield County, from DeBeque through Glenwood Canyon to Dotsero in western Eagle County.

According to a Garfield County alert sent just after 9 p.m., I-70 is closed in both directions from mile marker 133 (Dotsero exit) to mile marker 62, (DeBeque exit), due to multiple accidents. There is no estimated time for reopening.

For the latest on this and other statewide highway closures, visit the Colorado Department of Transportation’s cotrip.org.

UPDATE 6 p.m. — Ross Montessori School in Carbondale has called a snow day for Monday. There will be no in-person classes or online sessions, Head of School Sonya Hemmen said in an email sent to the press.


Interstate 70 between DeBeque and Rulison is closed in both directions Sunday evening due to multiple accidents, according to a notification from Garfield County Emergency Communications.

The current closure is between mile-markers 62-81, and comes just an hour after officials reopened I-70 at Parachute following a lengthy closure earlier in the day.

Travel restrictions, including chain laws for commercial vehicles, remain in effect elsewhere along I-70.

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office advises that hunters and other travelers with horses or other livestock can bring their animals to the Garfield County Fairgrounds until the weather clears. Staff is at the Fairgrounds to assist. The location is 1001 Railroad Ave. in Rifle.

CDOT advised in a Sunday night press release that, “with bitter cold temperatures and widespread snow impacts across much of Colorado, driving conditions will be challenging through the night and Monday morning’s commute will be slow-going.

“Wet road surfaces will freeze overnight and there will be packed snow on several roadways. CDOT crews are fully deployed removing snow, with the focus on clearing the interstates and most heavily traveled routes first. 

Motorists are advised to limit or avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, particularly on the I-70 mountain corridor.

This is a developing story and will be updated.


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