[UPDATE] The Colorado Department of Transportation reports that snow and avalanche removal operations have been completed and Monarch Pass on Highway 50 is open in both directions.

[Original post – Jan. 13, 2024, at 8:17 am] Monarch Mountain Ski Resort is closed today, Jan. 13th, as the Colorado Department of Transportation has closed Monarch Pass on Highway 50 due to adverse weather conditions.

Monarch Pass, Highway 50, between Gunnison and Salida, has been closed due to weather conditions, poor visibility, and safety concerns. Eastbound travelers will encounter a closure near Sargents at Mile Point 190, while westbound travelers will encounter a closure at Maysville near Mile Point 210.

Ski Monarch expects to be open for regular business hours Sunday January 14th. Please refer to CDOT’s website, COTrip.org, for updates.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for most of Colorado’s mountains through Saturday (1/13) and a Wind Chill Warning for Eastern Colorado into Tuesday (1/17). Periods of snow, heavy at times, and strong winds are expected through the holiday weekend over western Colorado. Motorists are likely to encounter blowing snow, limited visiblity, sub-freezing wind chills and difficult travel conditions in the mountains for the next several days. Due to the expected wind and snow, delays are possible for avalanche control operations.
 
An arctic airmass moves into eastern Colorado Friday night, dropping temperatures into the single digits through Monday. Gusty winds will also produce dangerous, sub-zero windchill values on the plains. Periods of light snow are also expected over eastern Colorado through the MLK weekend. 

Heavy mountain snow with strong winds, chains will likely be required for commercial transportation on most mountain passes.