Desperately needed rain appears to be on its way to parched Southwest Colorado this weekend.
Mike Charnick, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, said there will be a slight chance of rain in the region Friday into Saturday morning.
The most significant rainfall, however, is expected to enter the region Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.
In the high country of the San Juan Mountains, up to an inch of rain may fall.
“The mountains are definitely in for a decent amount of precipitation,” Charnick said. “Which is desperately needed.”
Charnick said there won’t be snow issues over any of the mountain passes. But with the soil being so dry, heavy rains could cause minor flooding issues.
Elevations above 11,000 feet could receive snowfall though, Charnick said.
In Durango, the best chance for rain is also Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Charnick said the storm should be out of the region by pre-dawn hours Sunday.
Throughout the weekend, it is going to be hot, he said.
Friday has a daytime high of 66 degrees and Saturday has a daytime high of 72 degrees.
Charnick said the storm is coming off the Pacific Ocean making its way to the central Rocky Mountains.
As of Thursday, Southwest Colorado is in an “extreme drought,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
