A fall storm brought slick driving conditions to mountain passes Sunday night across Southwest Colorado.
Matt Aleksa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, said 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the San Juan Mountains – though only at higher elevations.
“As far as the lower elevations, it wasn’t too crazy,” Aleksa said. “We saw rain at lower elevations, but the mountains got some good snow.”
Webcams show Purgatory Resort with trace amounts of snow near the base area and a thin layer near the top of the mountain.
Warmer temperatures meant the valleys and foothills received mostly rain. Aleksa said the storm marked the beginning of a more unsettled pattern, with the next major snowstorm expected to arrive later this week.
“This next storm is a low-pressure system that’s diving down the West Coast and will be settling over northern Baja and desert Southwest by Tuesday into Wednesday,” Aleksa said. “So we’re going to start getting some shower activity Tuesday, but it’ll be pretty spotty. It looks like the system lifts northward through the area by Thursday.”
Aleksa said the next storm could bring 3 to 6 inches Tuesday into Wednesday, and another 5 to 8 inches by Thursday. Snow totals and timing depend on the storm’s track.
“It’s really all dependent on how it tracks, and so the amounts can change,” Aleksa said. “The main thing to gather is that while the amounts are uncertain, it looks like we’re going to be getting another round here midweek.”
The long-term forecast calls for continued unsettled weather, with more chances for snow heading into Thanksgiving. But long-term predictions remain uncertain.
“We’re in this unsettled period now, so we are expecting to get some more snow and hopefully build up that snowpack,” Aleksa said. “Every little bit helps.
As the snowpack builds, backcountry travelers are urged to pay attention to the avalanche danger.
The avalanche danger has been minimal so far, but that will change with more snowfall, said Ethan Greene, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
“This time of year is a little interesting in that we have some snow that’s on the ground in very specific places – mostly high, north-facing slopes in the San Juans,” Greene said. “In those places, we might start to see some isolated spots where you can trigger a small avalanche. But certainly as the next few storms come through, we can expect to see the size of these avalanches starting to increase.”
Different storm layers can bond differently to one another, creating dangerous conditions. CAIC issues daily avalanche and weather forecasts for skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers and snowshoers.
“What people need to do is check the forecast so you can get information on the current conditions, see what kind of activity has been happening,” Greene said. “Really think about where that old snow is and how that new snow is interacting with it.”
The Colorado Department of Transportation offers road condition updates to help drivers choose the safest route.
“Make sure that you’re prepared to be traveling in the mountains in the wintertime,” Greene said. “Having extra clothes, food and water in your car and full tank of gas whenever you can. And as far as avalanches go, really just paying attention to what CDOT is communicating in terms of anticipated hazards and closures is important.”
Aleksa urged drivers to be prepared for changing weather conditions this winter.
“The roads could be wet, but with the change over to snow and the cooler temperatures we could see some slick spots in places – and so just take your time,” Aleksa said.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
