Strong winds expected Friday; CDOT urges caution along I-25, I-70

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Strong winds are expected Friday and that could cause some travel concerns this Martin Luther King weekend.

According to our own meteorologist, Sam Postich, gusts up to 60 mph could hit areas of southern Colorado between noon and 6 p.m. Friday.

The Colorado Department of Transportation says it's aware of the warnings, and the department wants people to drive cautiously this weekend.

"High winds are a challenge that CDOT faces year-round," said Michelle Peulen, a spokesperson for the department. "High winds can cause us to put in different types of advisories as well as it could affect your visibility."

Peulen says several drivers on Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 could be affected as more people head to the snowy mountains for the holiday weekend.

"So if you're traveling to the mountains and there's just a little bit of snow on the ground - it doesn't even have to be snowing - and we've got those high wind gusts, you can have ground blizzards and it can reduce your visibility," she said.

As Friday approaches, Peulen says drivers should be on the lookout for the changing speed limits and restrictions during the strong weather.

Mike Davis, who supervises CDOT highways in Park and Teller counties, says he sees high-profile vehicles tip over at least twice a year due to high winds. But regular drivers should also be careful.

"You're going to be trying to fight it and once that wind stops, it can actually pull you because you're actually turning into the wind instead of going straight," Davis said. "You could actually swerve over into oncoming traffic or maybe onto a dirt shoulder."

Davis says people should drive slower than they would usually and to watch for high-profile commercial vehicles.

"Just be ready for delays because people will be driving slower," he said.