COLBY, Kansas (AP) – Interstate 70 has reopened after being shut down for a few hours.  High winds and blowing dirt prompted Kansas officials to close about 55 miles of westbound Interstate 70 from Colby to the Colorado line.

The westbound lanes were closed around 3:30 Central time Thursday afternoon, with the Kansas Department of Transportation citing poor visibility in Colorado. Officials in that state closed a 12-mile stretch of I-70 in both directions from Burlington to the The National Weather Service reported non-thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph in northwestern Kansas on Thursday afternoon.