Driving the I-70 plains around Limon means watching the weather, not the mountains

People picture Colorado driving as mountain passes and chain laws. Out here, the hazards are different. The stretch of Interstate 70 that crosses Lincoln County through Limon is flat and fast — and that openness is exactly the risk.

In winter, the danger is often wind and snow together. There is little to block a strong wind on the plains, so even a modest snowfall can blow across the road, drift, and turn into a ground blizzard that erases visibility in minutes. When that happens, the state can close long sections of I-70, and there are few easy detours.

In summer, the plains trade snow for storms. Severe thunderstorms here can bring heavy rain, large hail, and high wind that arrive quickly and hit hard.

The practical habit is simple: before a long drive across the county, check conditions, and if a closure or storm is posted, wait it out rather than pushing into it. For current road status and closures, use CDOT and COtrip; for the storm picture, use the National Weather Service.