Cold temperatures are expected to linger in Southwest Colorado until this weekend when a storm system blows into the region, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
With snow on the ground and no wind to swirl the atmosphere, cold air has become trapped underneath warm air – kind of like cold water at the bottom of a swimming pool, said meteorologist Jeff Colton.
“The interesting thing about Cortez, Durango and Pagosa Springs is you guys are south-facing, so you get a lot more sun,” Colton said. “So those inversions will tend to break a lot easier.”
The deep freeze is expected to break this weekend. Durango is expected to receive 3-6 inches of snow through Tuesday, with most of that coming Friday afternoon and Friday evening, Colton said.
“The Friday one is definitely looking a little more impressive every time I look at it for the San Juan Mountains,” he said.
The warmest days are expected to be Saturday and Sunday, when Durango may break the freezing point, he said.
shane@durangoherald.com
