Winter road closures, month by month around the world

Chains, snow gates and passes shut after a storm; check the road authority before you drive.

This is a warning page, not a recommendation. Winter road closures covers 13 destinations on SeasonMap; the months below are the ones in which the risk window is open — most weeks in them pass quietly, and the score beside each place is still the ordinary climate score, hazard and all.

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When it is on

Number of destinations with winter road closures on in that month. Windows move a little each year.

Winter road closures in January

  1. Tbilisi 🇬🇪 GeorgiaJvari Pass winter closures · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)The road to Kazbegi crosses a 2,379-metre pass that shuts at short notice for snow and avalanche work, sometimes for a day, sometimes longer.66
  2. Khujand 🇹🇯 TajikistanWinter road to Dushanbe · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The highway south crosses passes above 3,000 m through the Shahriston and Anzob tunnels, and snow and avalanches close it at times.62
  3. Oukaïmeden 🇲🇦 MoroccoSnow on the mountain road · 1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)The single road up from Marrakech can ice over or close after a heavy fall, and chains or a 4x4 are expected when it does.58
  4. Osh 🇰🇬 KyrgyzstanWinter blizzards on the Taldyk pass · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The road south to Sary-Tash and the Pamir Highway stays officially open, but blizzards and avalanches shut the Taldyk pass for hours or days at a time.46
  5. Inverness 🇬🇧 United KingdomSnow gates on the A9 and passes · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The gates at Drumochter and Slochd shut in the worst of it and the Highland roads south close with them, sometimes for a day.46
  6. South Lake Tahoe 🇺🇸 United StatesChain controls on the passes · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Sierra storms drop feet rather than inches, and Highway 50 over Echo Summit and the interstate over Donner go to chains or close outright.44
  7. Sequoia National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesWinter chain controls · 1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)Chains have to be carried on the Generals Highway all winter, four-wheel drive included, and the road closes outright during storms.31
  8. Vík 🇮🇸 IcelandWind and ice on Route 1 · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The ring road over Myrdalssandur east of the village closes for wind and ice several times a winter, sometimes with no warning and no detour.23

What's on around the world in January →

Winter road closures in February

  1. Tbilisi 🇬🇪 GeorgiaJvari Pass winter closures · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)The road to Kazbegi crosses a 2,379-metre pass that shuts at short notice for snow and avalanche work, sometimes for a day, sometimes longer.70
  2. Khujand 🇹🇯 TajikistanWinter road to Dushanbe · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The highway south crosses passes above 3,000 m through the Shahriston and Anzob tunnels, and snow and avalanches close it at times.70
  3. Oukaïmeden 🇲🇦 MoroccoSnow on the mountain road · 1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)The single road up from Marrakech can ice over or close after a heavy fall, and chains or a 4x4 are expected when it does.57
  4. Osh 🇰🇬 KyrgyzstanWinter blizzards on the Taldyk pass · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The road south to Sary-Tash and the Pamir Highway stays officially open, but blizzards and avalanches shut the Taldyk pass for hours or days at a time.56
  5. Inverness 🇬🇧 United KingdomSnow gates on the A9 and passes · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The gates at Drumochter and Slochd shut in the worst of it and the Highland roads south close with them, sometimes for a day.54
  6. South Lake Tahoe 🇺🇸 United StatesChain controls on the passes · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Sierra storms drop feet rather than inches, and Highway 50 over Echo Summit and the interstate over Donner go to chains or close outright.47
  7. Sequoia National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesWinter chain controls · 1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)Chains have to be carried on the Generals Highway all winter, four-wheel drive included, and the road closes outright during storms.34
  8. Vík 🇮🇸 IcelandWind and ice on Route 1 · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The ring road over Myrdalssandur east of the village closes for wind and ice several times a winter, sometimes with no warning and no detour.30

What's on around the world in February →

Winter road closures in March

  1. Khujand 🇹🇯 TajikistanWinter road to Dushanbe · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The highway south crosses passes above 3,000 m through the Shahriston and Anzob tunnels, and snow and avalanches close it at times.80
  2. Tbilisi 🇬🇪 GeorgiaJvari Pass winter closures · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)The road to Kazbegi crosses a 2,379-metre pass that shuts at short notice for snow and avalanche work, sometimes for a day, sometimes longer.73
  3. Osh 🇰🇬 KyrgyzstanWinter blizzards on the Taldyk pass · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The road south to Sary-Tash and the Pamir Highway stays officially open, but blizzards and avalanches shut the Taldyk pass for hours or days at a time.67
  4. Inverness 🇬🇧 United KingdomSnow gates on the A9 and passes · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The gates at Drumochter and Slochd shut in the worst of it and the Highland roads south close with them, sometimes for a day.65
  5. Oukaïmeden 🇲🇦 MoroccoSnow on the mountain road · 1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)The single road up from Marrakech can ice over or close after a heavy fall, and chains or a 4x4 are expected when it does.59
  6. South Lake Tahoe 🇺🇸 United StatesChain controls on the passes · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Sierra storms drop feet rather than inches, and Highway 50 over Echo Summit and the interstate over Donner go to chains or close outright.54
  7. Vík 🇮🇸 IcelandWind and ice on Route 1 · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The ring road over Myrdalssandur east of the village closes for wind and ice several times a winter, sometimes with no warning and no detour.41
  8. Sequoia National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesWinter chain controls · 1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)Chains have to be carried on the Generals Highway all winter, four-wheel drive included, and the road closes outright during storms.36

What's on around the world in March →

Winter road closures in April

  1. South Lake Tahoe 🇺🇸 United StatesChain controls on the passes · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Sierra storms drop feet rather than inches, and Highway 50 over Echo Summit and the interstate over Donner go to chains or close outright.68
  2. Sequoia National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesWinter chain controls · 1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)Chains have to be carried on the Generals Highway all winter, four-wheel drive included, and the road closes outright during storms.52

What's on around the world in April →

Winter road closures in June

  1. Drakensberg 🇿🇦 South AfricaSani Pass closes for snow · 1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually)Snow shuts the pass and the Lesotho border post at the top of it for days at a time most winters, usually at short notice.79
  2. Perisher Valley 🇦🇺 AustraliaPark fee and chains season · 6 Jun – 7 Oct (usually)From the June to the October long weekend Kosciuszko charges its higher winter vehicle fee, and two-wheel-drive cars must carry chains on Kosciuszko Road up to Perisher and on the Guthega road.43
  3. Farellones 🇨🇱 ChileOne-way hours on the road up · 15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)In ski season the G-21 switchbacks run uphill only in the morning and downhill only in the afternoon, and carrying chains is enforced whenever a storm warning is out.37
  4. Las Leñas 🇦🇷 ArgentinaSnow chains on the RP 222 · 1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)Through the winter the gendarmerie can turn back any car without chains on the provincial road up from the RN 40, snow on the tarmac or not, and storms close the road outright for a day or two at a time.33
  5. Portillo 🇨🇱 ChileAccess road shut by storms · 1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)The hotel sits on the international road to Argentina and the pass closes whenever a big front arrives; 2026 saw it shut for 34 days.33

What's on around the world in June →

Winter road closures in July

  1. Drakensberg 🇿🇦 South AfricaSani Pass closes for snow · 1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually)Snow shuts the pass and the Lesotho border post at the top of it for days at a time most winters, usually at short notice.79
  2. Perisher Valley 🇦🇺 AustraliaPark fee and chains season · 6 Jun – 7 Oct (usually)From the June to the October long weekend Kosciuszko charges its higher winter vehicle fee, and two-wheel-drive cars must carry chains on Kosciuszko Road up to Perisher and on the Guthega road.41
  3. Farellones 🇨🇱 ChileOne-way hours on the road up · 15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)In ski season the G-21 switchbacks run uphill only in the morning and downhill only in the afternoon, and carrying chains is enforced whenever a storm warning is out.39
  4. Las Leñas 🇦🇷 ArgentinaSnow chains on the RP 222 · 1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)Through the winter the gendarmerie can turn back any car without chains on the provincial road up from the RN 40, snow on the tarmac or not, and storms close the road outright for a day or two at a time.38
  5. Portillo 🇨🇱 ChileAccess road shut by storms · 1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)The hotel sits on the international road to Argentina and the pass closes whenever a big front arrives; 2026 saw it shut for 34 days.38

What's on around the world in July →

Winter road closures in August

  1. Drakensberg 🇿🇦 South AfricaSani Pass closes for snow · 1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually)Snow shuts the pass and the Lesotho border post at the top of it for days at a time most winters, usually at short notice.84
  2. Farellones 🇨🇱 ChileOne-way hours on the road up · 15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)In ski season the G-21 switchbacks run uphill only in the morning and downhill only in the afternoon, and carrying chains is enforced whenever a storm warning is out.45
  3. Perisher Valley 🇦🇺 AustraliaPark fee and chains season · 6 Jun – 7 Oct (usually)From the June to the October long weekend Kosciuszko charges its higher winter vehicle fee, and two-wheel-drive cars must carry chains on Kosciuszko Road up to Perisher and on the Guthega road.44
  4. Las Leñas 🇦🇷 ArgentinaSnow chains on the RP 222 · 1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)Through the winter the gendarmerie can turn back any car without chains on the provincial road up from the RN 40, snow on the tarmac or not, and storms close the road outright for a day or two at a time.41
  5. Portillo 🇨🇱 ChileAccess road shut by storms · 1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)The hotel sits on the international road to Argentina and the pass closes whenever a big front arrives; 2026 saw it shut for 34 days.40

What's on around the world in August →

Winter road closures in September

  1. Perisher Valley 🇦🇺 AustraliaPark fee and chains season · 6 Jun – 7 Oct (usually)From the June to the October long weekend Kosciuszko charges its higher winter vehicle fee, and two-wheel-drive cars must carry chains on Kosciuszko Road up to Perisher and on the Guthega road.52
  2. Farellones 🇨🇱 ChileOne-way hours on the road up · 15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)In ski season the G-21 switchbacks run uphill only in the morning and downhill only in the afternoon, and carrying chains is enforced whenever a storm warning is out.52
  3. Las Leñas 🇦🇷 ArgentinaSnow chains on the RP 222 · 1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)Through the winter the gendarmerie can turn back any car without chains on the provincial road up from the RN 40, snow on the tarmac or not, and storms close the road outright for a day or two at a time.49
  4. Portillo 🇨🇱 ChileAccess road shut by storms · 1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)The hotel sits on the international road to Argentina and the pass closes whenever a big front arrives; 2026 saw it shut for 34 days.48

What's on around the world in September →

Winter road closures in October

  1. Las Leñas 🇦🇷 ArgentinaSnow chains on the RP 222 · 1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)Through the winter the gendarmerie can turn back any car without chains on the provincial road up from the RN 40, snow on the tarmac or not, and storms close the road outright for a day or two at a time.58
  2. Perisher Valley 🇦🇺 AustraliaPark fee and chains season · 6 Jun – 7 Oct (usually)From the June to the October long weekend Kosciuszko charges its higher winter vehicle fee, and two-wheel-drive cars must carry chains on Kosciuszko Road up to Perisher and on the Guthega road.58

What's on around the world in October →

Winter road closures in November

  1. Khujand 🇹🇯 TajikistanWinter road to Dushanbe · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The highway south crosses passes above 3,000 m through the Shahriston and Anzob tunnels, and snow and avalanches close it at times.74
  2. Osh 🇰🇬 KyrgyzstanWinter blizzards on the Taldyk pass · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The road south to Sary-Tash and the Pamir Highway stays officially open, but blizzards and avalanches shut the Taldyk pass for hours or days at a time.63
  3. South Lake Tahoe 🇺🇸 United StatesChain controls on the passes · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Sierra storms drop feet rather than inches, and Highway 50 over Echo Summit and the interstate over Donner go to chains or close outright.59
  4. Inverness 🇬🇧 United KingdomSnow gates on the A9 and passes · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The gates at Drumochter and Slochd shut in the worst of it and the Highland roads south close with them, sometimes for a day.55
  5. Sequoia National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesWinter chain controls · 1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)Chains have to be carried on the Generals Highway all winter, four-wheel drive included, and the road closes outright during storms.49
  6. Vík 🇮🇸 IcelandWind and ice on Route 1 · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The ring road over Myrdalssandur east of the village closes for wind and ice several times a winter, sometimes with no warning and no detour.35

What's on around the world in November →

Winter road closures in December

  1. Tbilisi 🇬🇪 GeorgiaJvari Pass winter closures · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)The road to Kazbegi crosses a 2,379-metre pass that shuts at short notice for snow and avalanche work, sometimes for a day, sometimes longer.65
  2. Khujand 🇹🇯 TajikistanWinter road to Dushanbe · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The highway south crosses passes above 3,000 m through the Shahriston and Anzob tunnels, and snow and avalanches close it at times.64
  3. Oukaïmeden 🇲🇦 MoroccoSnow on the mountain road · 1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)The single road up from Marrakech can ice over or close after a heavy fall, and chains or a 4x4 are expected when it does.56
  4. Osh 🇰🇬 KyrgyzstanWinter blizzards on the Taldyk pass · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The road south to Sary-Tash and the Pamir Highway stays officially open, but blizzards and avalanches shut the Taldyk pass for hours or days at a time.48
  5. Inverness 🇬🇧 United KingdomSnow gates on the A9 and passes · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The gates at Drumochter and Slochd shut in the worst of it and the Highland roads south close with them, sometimes for a day.45
  6. South Lake Tahoe 🇺🇸 United StatesChain controls on the passes · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Sierra storms drop feet rather than inches, and Highway 50 over Echo Summit and the interstate over Donner go to chains or close outright.42
  7. Sequoia National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesWinter chain controls · 1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)Chains have to be carried on the Generals Highway all winter, four-wheel drive included, and the road closes outright during storms.38
  8. Vík 🇮🇸 IcelandWind and ice on Route 1 · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The ring road over Myrdalssandur east of the village closes for wind and ice several times a winter, sometimes with no warning and no detour.26

What's on around the world in December →