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After rainy Saturday, skies expected to clear for Fourth

Monsoonal-like weather led to flood watch Friday
Celeste Matovich stays dry as she walks to work Friday in Durango. The National Weather Service forecasts a 50 percent chance of rain Saturday with a high of 76 degrees. Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high of 84, and Monday, the Fourth of July, is expected to be mostly sunny with a high of 84.

Monsoonal-like rains moved into the region Friday, prompting the

“These showers and storms could produce very heavy rainfall and potential for flash flooding if they get a lot of rain over a certain area over a short duration of time,” said Matthew Aleksa, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, on Friday afternoon.

The watch was in effect until 9 p.m. Friday for Southwest Colorado and Southeast Utah.

Dry air is expected to filter into the region as the weekend progresses, he said. Afternoon thunderstorms are likely Saturday, and could materialize Sunday, he said. Monday is expected to be mostly dry.

“The Fourth (of July) looks to be mostly dry at this time, so hopefully, that pans out,” Aleksa said. “But once we get the moisture in place, if there’s not something to push it out, sometimes the moisture hangs out just a little longer.”

It’s a little early to declare the start of monsoonal rains, but Friday’s weather pattern was typical of the monsoon season, with moisture originating from the subtopics, Aleksa said.

“It’s got that component to it,” he said. “Just because that’s happening now, doesn’t mean that we’ll see periods where we don’t have that moisture in place, but at least it’s starting to work its way into the area. ... This is just a precursor.”

After the holiday, the next chance for moisture arrives Wednesday or Thursday.

shane@durangoherald.com



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