Snow is expected in the San Juan Mountains through tonight, with 12 to 18 inches forecasted to accumulate at Durango Mountain Resort.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the southwest San Juan Mountains at 11 a.m. Friday; the warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday. Area passes are expected to become snow-covered and icy, with winds gusting up to 45 mph, making visibility difficult in some areas.
Rain was expected to turn to snow Friday night in Durango, with less than a half-inch of accumulation.
“It doesn’t look like it’s cold enough in town for any accumulation,” said Paul Frisbie, a meteorologist with the Grand Junction Office of the National Weather Service. “Especially with highs in the upper 40s (today) and Sunday.”
A lull is expected in the mountains this morning but will be followed by more snow later today, as two separate systems make their way across the area.
In Durango, today’s high is predicted to reach 46 degrees, with an overnight low of 23 degrees. Sunday will probably be sunny but chilly, with a high of 46 and a predicted low of 17.
Temperatures are predicted to return to the 50s by Monday, dropping to the low 20s at night.
“There could be more weather next week,” Frisbie said, “but the confidence is not real high right now about the dynamics of that system.”
That forecasted snow will be good for area ski resorts. Wolf Creek Ski Area is already open seven days a week, Telluride Ski Resort will open on Thanksgiving Day.
DMR is scheduled to open Nov. 29.
abutler@durangoherald.com
