The National Weather Service’s extended forecast for Durango has temperatures potentially reaching highs in the mid-50s by Friday, but fans of snow shouldn’t worry – the warming trend may only be temporary.

“We’re just getting into a pattern,” said Kris Sanders, senior meteorologist with the NWS in Grand Junction. “It’s a little above normal for temperatures. We’re basically looking at a ridge of high pressure that is going to set up over the western United States and sort of allow the gulf air to get up here – some of the tropical air mass, I guess you could say, or just much warmer temperatures through the week and into the weekend.”

The forecast predicts mostly sunny skies Sunday and then clear skies through Friday.

This is not to say that winter is over, Sanders said. It’s just a break.

Eventually, the next weather system, which may bring a storm during the next week, will push the high pressure further south and east, he said.

ngonzales@durangoherald.com