Snow load closes school; I-25 north icy

DURANGO, Colo. (KREZ-KRQE) - The Durango School District has closed Miller Middle School due to the weight of snow on its roof and delayed the start of other schools in the Colorado district Thursday by two hours.

The cafeteria at Needham Elementary School also has been closed after a structural beam began sagging under the weight of the snow.

In northeastern New Mexico the Department of Transportation is warning motorists that Interstate 25 is icy with visibility reduced by blowing snow from Colmor to north of Springer. Highway maintenance patrols have sanded and salted the road, but motorists still should reduced their speeds and drive cautiously, according to the DOT.

In Durango the school district delayed the start of classes so its officials and the La Plata County Office of Emergency Management could inspect the school buildings. The last storm increased snow loads above recommended levels on several roofs at Miller mid-school, according to the district.

District maintenance personnel aided by several roofing companies were working Thursday to remove snow from the school roofs. A decision will be made later in the day about reopening the school on Friday.

Durango received more than 35 inches of snow in January, more than twice its average amount, and received another 2 feet in the first week of February, double the town's average for the entire month. A steady parade of storms have blown through since then with cold temperatures limiting melting.

The most-recent storm added about another foot, KRQE News 13 Meteorologist Jason Laney reported.

Snow loads already have collapsed the roof of a former skating rink that was mostly vacant.