Light snow that moved through Durango on Monday morning was the first of two storms expected to affect Southwest Colorado this week, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
The second storm, expected to arrive late Wednesday, could bring a bit more snow to Durango and other low-lying areas, with roughly 3 to 6 inches in the mountains, said Tom Renwick of the National Weather Service.
“It’s kind of like a one-two punch,” Renwick said. “Unfortunately, the best energy – the best moisture – is all focused to the north. This is kind of what’s been happening a lot of the winter in the San Juans.”
Colder temperatures Wednesday will allow snow to fall at lower elevations than typical for this winter, he said.
As of Tuesday morning, OpenSnow forecasts showed many Southwest Colorado ski areas will receive a dose of fresh snow.
Purgatory Resort, which recently opened terrain on Chair 8 with powdery conditions, is calling for 5 inches. Wolf Creek, which is 100% open, may see 8 inches, and Silverton could get 4 inches by the time this week’s storm ends.
After the second storm wraps up, conditions are expected to turn warm and dry.
“Things do change, but once this system moves through early Friday, it looks like temperatures go back up to four to five degrees above where they should be,” he said.
He does not expect the snow to create significant travel hazards other than in the mountains.
“The only thing I would really be concerned about is going over the passes,” Renwick said. “Down low in Durango, the temperatures are going to be so warm – even with that colder air moving in – and you have the sun hitting the pavement. It’ll be a little snowy, icy, slushy to start with, and then probably just become wet as the day goes on.”
To stay up to date with road conditions and closures, visit cotrip.org.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
