Unseasonably warm temperatures may have more people in Durango enjoying ice cream than skiing – a trend that is expected to continue for at least the next week.
And while ice cream parlors are celebrating the nice weather, other businesses are taking a financial hit because of the lack of snow.
To the dismay of many, Durango saw a mild Christmas Day, and weather forecasters say the region is expected to experience above-average temperatures through the rest of 2017.
The seven-day forecast sees sunny skies and high temperatures in the low 50s, with low temperatures in the low 20s and upper-teens.
Meteorologist Julie Malingowski of the National Weather Service in Grand Junction said those planning an outing on New Year’s Eve can expect warmer weather than Durango residents experienced during last year’s festivities.
Durango had a high temperature of 32 degrees on New Year’s Eve 2016 and received 2 inches of fresh snow on Jan. 1. The high temperature on New Year’s Eve this year is expected to be 51.
“Temperatures will drop to the upper-teens by midnight,” Malingowski said.
Snowpack is 25 percent of average for this time of year for the San Miguel, Dolores, San Juan and Animas basins – the lowest average in the state.
Statewide snowpack increased to 62 percent of normal after a Christmas holiday snowstorm dropped more than a foot of snow in North Central Colorado, increasing avalanche danger to “high” in the mountain backcountry around Vail and Summit County and “considerable” in the Aspen and Steamboat Spring areas.
And while the dearth in snowfall in Southwest Colorado raises concerns over the fire danger next year, Malingowski said it is too early to make any calls on what to expect from the fire season.
“Fire danger takes a lot of variables, and it is too early in winter to be worried about that at this time,” she said.
“Once we get into January, that is when the San Juans start to see snowpack pick up. We are starting to get into the time of year when we want to see that snowpack increasing.”
Colorado’s mountain passes are a lot less daunting without snow on them, and more people are opting for all-season tires for their winter travels.
Win Wilhelmsen, a manager for Big O Tires in Durango, said snow tire sales are noticeably down.
“People plan their buying around the winter months, and it if doesn’t snow, they change their approach,” he said. “If you have it (snow), people will buy snow tires.”
He said snow tires wear out quickly but give great winter performance by increasing traction on snow and ice with specific tread design and soft rubber, while all-season tires are designed to provide a quiet ride, good tread life and fuel economy.
The warm weather can be a double-edge sword for many hardware stores: Snow shovels go untouched, but some customers are working on outdoor projects that otherwise would have been postponed.
Timothy Gaul of Kroegers Ace Hardware said winter sales are down this month by about $5,000 compared with December 2016.
“We sell a lot of snow shovels and salt normally in December, but without the snow, we haven’t had anyone rushing in to buy shovels,” he said. “With the nice weather, people are still trying to get projects done.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, what feels like an extended fall means more people are craving frozen treats – an unexpected economic boost for local ice cream shops.
“For me, the weather is great because the warmer the weather is, the more people think about ice cream,” said Cream Bean Berry owner Katie Burford. “I wish there was more snow, but as far as sales goes, it only helps for it to be warmer.”
Burford said this month’s sales are up by 60 percent compared with December 2016.
“The heat wave has helped ice cream sales significantly,” she said.
The store is closed until mid-January to undergo kitchen improvements, something Burford regrets considering the warm weather and missed business opportunities.
Looking ahead to next year, the long-range forecast predicts a more active weather pattern starting around Jan. 6, which will bring with it a better chance for snow in the Four Corners.
An area of high pressure over the Western United States is blocking storms from reaching Southwest Colorado, and before Durango can see snow, things need to change.
“That high pressure will retreat over the Pacific Ocean and allow jet streams to come further south, and allow weather systems to pass through,” Malingowski said. “That does not specify a storm, but the Four Corners needs this to get weather.”
Finally, those snow shovels might serve a purpose.
mrupani@durangoherald.com
