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GRAND COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow Tuesday afternoon, closing all lanes for several hours.

The highway was back open around 5 p.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation said.

The snow slide occurred near Winter Park, at mile marker 238. Crews used heavy equipment to clear snow from the roadway as drivers waited in stopped traffic.

  • An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023.
    An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023. (Photo: KDVR)
  • An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023.
    An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023. (Photo: KDVR)
  • An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023.
    An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023. (Photo: KDVR)
  • An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023.
    An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023. (Photo: KDVR)
  • An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023.
    An avalanche on Berthoud Pass covered part of U.S. 40 in snow on April 11, 2023. (Photo: KDVR)

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s forecast had the area at a “Considerable” risk for avalanches, level 3 of 5 on its scale.

“We’ve been having wet avalanches for the last few days,” said Ethan Greene, director of the CAIC.

What is a wet avalanche?

“These are relatively small avalanches, coming off of steep slopes, that hang above, especially the west side of Berthoud Pass,” Greene said.