Finally, the weather is doing what it’s supposed to do, at least for a few days.
Southwest Coloradans woke up to cooler and humid conditions Saturday, and it looks like today and Monday also will make up for our lack of Rocky Mountain autumn weather in the past month.
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for much of the area, with rain and snow forecast for two days. There is an 80 percent chance of rain today, with a high of 52 in Durango, and we may even see some snow coming down by Monday, with as much as 8 inches on the passes north of Durango. A high temperature of 48 is expected Monday in town.
In fact, a winter storm warning has been issued for Silverton for today and Monday, calling for windy, snowy and cold conditions in the mountains surrounding the rustic hamlet, with highs around 40 degrees and winds cranking at around 20 mph. To the east, Pagosa Springs also has been issued a hazardous weather outlook, but the notorious Wolf Creek Pass has been tagged with a winter weather advisory.
So, there are outlooks, warnings, advisories, watches. What’s the difference?
“An outlook is farther out,” said Paul Frisbie, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “It’s like a heads-up. It’s not a warning, it’s not an advisory or a watch. It’s just to give people advance notification to pay closer attention to forecast updates.”
An advisory, Frisbie said, means there is high confidence that a weather event could occur; and with a watch, the potential has grown even more.
In the case of a warning, it is going to happen. Get ready.
“With a warning, the threat will occur,” Frisbie said.
Frisbie said the warning pertaining to the upcoming storm is based on high winds, snow and colder temperatures. While not out of place for mountain winter weather, it’s the first of its kind for the season.
And, of course, much of the region will be basking in the sun by the middle of next week. In effect, you could say there is an unofficial sun and pleasant weather advisory in the forecast.
“Maybe lower 60s by the later part of next week,” Frisbie said.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
