Silverton residents woke Saturday morning to about 6 inches of snow on the ground, taking the cake from a spring snowstorm moving across the San Juan Mountains.
National Weather Service meteorologist Ellen Heffernan said the system is moving from the west carrying the usual valley rain and mountain snow, and that will increase late Saturday evening.
“Silverton was our big winner,” she said of the winter weather, although it’s not over yet.
A winter storm watch has been issued for the mountain region above 10,000 feet from midnight Saturday night through 6 a.m. Monday.
“It looks like it’s going to be off and on through that period,” she said. “But we do expect a pretty wet weekend.”
Heffernan said she does expect snow to accumulate during colder nighttime hours, bringing slushy, snow-covered roads that will impact driving conditions, but higher daytime temperatures should melt it off.
“This system is on the rather warm side, and we’re pushing the end of April here,” she said.
Durango will see a mix of rain and snow Sunday, highs near 48, lows just above freezing.
Temperatures will rise into the upper 50s Monday and Tuesday.
Forecasters are calling for sunshine and warmer temperatures to return by Wednesday.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
