A fall storm is set to arrive Friday evening in Southwest Colorado, where it will linger through the weekend.
A strong low-pressure system pushing in from the Pacific Northwest is expected to deliver an estimated 10 inches to 20 inches of snow above 9,000 feet.
“This will be the first significant winter storm of the season,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Matthew Aleksa said. “We're expecting big changes here, with the temperatures getting much colder Friday into the weekend.”
The agency has issued a winter storm watch beginning noon Friday, which will remain in effect through Sunday morning. Included in the watch are the San Juan Mountains as well as Telluride, Ouray, Lake City, Silverton, Rico and Hesperus.
Rains at lower elevations and snow in the mountains is expected to begin by Thursday morning as a disturbance leaves the area and early moisture from the incoming storm arrives.
“Low levels are still kind of dry right now, and so we're seeing a lot of gusty winds with these showers currently, and little rain – maybe a few hundredths or up to a tenth of an inch – but really nothing much falling from these current showers,” Aleksa said. “But that's going to change as we head into late Thursday and Friday.”
The storm will also bring a drop in temperatures. Weekend highs in Durango and Cortez are expected to hover around 50 degrees, while the mountain passes are not expected to break 40 degrees.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is advising drivers to be prepared for “treacherous road conditions” on passes along U.S. highways 160 and 550, as well as Colorado Highway 145.
“Our maintenance crews have been busy preparing their equipment for the first taste of the winter season,” CDOT Regional Transportation Director Julie Constan said in a news release.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
