“Dirt Blizzard” Causes Closure of U.S. 85 Near Torrington

A so-called “dirt blizzard” caused several minor accidents and closed a busy highway near Torrington on Sunday.

Officials with the Wyoming Highway Patrol say multiple troopers were dispatched Sunday to tend to roughly 20 stranded vehicles that were driving on U.S. Highway 85 after winds in excess of 50 miles per hour kicked up loose crop land dirt and reduced visibility to zero.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation closed the highway at the peak of the wind storm early Sunday afternoon. The agency reopened the road Sunday evening.

Sgt. Stephen Townsend says several highway patrol vehicles sustained paint and decal damage during the storm.