Local News – The Durango Herald

Trending:

Wolf Creek Ski Area to open beginner terrain this weekend

Above-average temperatures expected to cool down later this week

DATE: Nov 8, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Election yields low turnout, but important training opportunity

Ballot questions, lack of candidates may not have resonated with voters

DATE: Nov 8, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Talbot holds strong lead in Bayfield school board race

Candidate says he wants to keep district on current path

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Newcomer leads Ignacio school board election

Ross Melton takes highest percentage of votes entering final tally

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Bayfield voters reject sales tax increase

1% increase would have funded town parks; mayor ‘not surprised’ at the outcome

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Southwest Colorado voters firmly reject Prop. HH

Time to ‘roll up the sleeves and get to work,’ county commissioner says

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Voters favor continued funding for Durango Business Improvement District

79% of votes cast support continuing BID with 2 mill property tax

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Upper Pine voters say ‘yes’ to dual fire station, urgent care

Ballot Issue 7A extends property tax that was due to sunset in 2024

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

The Nugget Mountain Bar needs to move food truck, again

Issues with fire code create dilemma for north La Plata County business

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango finance processes strengthened after 2019 embezzlement scandal

Devon Schmidt says completing annual comprehensive report on time was city’s biggest finance achievement since 2018

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

United Airlines introduces second Airbus to Durango market

Larger aircraft, maintained frequency represent increased seat capacity

DATE: Nov 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

What to expect in Colorado’s ballot measure election

Don’t look for results until the polls close, state secretary says

DATE: Nov 6, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Hundreds attend Candlelight vigil for Cortez police Sgt. Michael Moran

Skyhawks score 41 points off turnovers Monday at Whalen Gymnasium

Snowstorm moves through the areaThe season’s first big snowstorm causes problems for drivers and makes for a winter wonderland

The season’s first big snowstorm causes problems for drivers and makes for a winter wonderland

Photos: Singing with SantaSanta Claus makes his first appearance in Durango

Santa Claus makes his first appearance in Durango

Snow descends on DurangoForecasters say storm could dump 6 inches in Durango area

A fall storm that moved into Southwest Colorado Friday morning was expected to dump 6 inches of snow in the Durango area – more than weather forecasters had initially predicted.Snow started falling about 9:15 a.m. Friday and intensified shortly before 11:30 a.m., blanketing parks, vehicles and the hilltops overlooking the city. Roads became slick about 2:30 p.m. As of 4 p.m., the Durango Police Department had responded to six crashes, in addition to a few stranded motorists.U.S. Highway 160 at County Road 44 near Mancos Hill was closed from around 4 p.m. to just after 6 p.m. because a vehicle carrying an “oversized load” had spun out and blocked both the eastbound and westbound lanes, according to Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes.“Right now our officers are able to keep up with the crashes that are coming in,” said Cmdr. Nick Stasi, with the Durango Police Department. “As always with winter weather, we remind drivers to slow down and give extra space for the cars in front.”Snow started accumulating very fast as the day went on, making it “challenging for plow operators to keep up,” according to CDOT.

Southwest Colorado’s five major mountain passes were icy and snowpacked Friday afternoon. But all five remained open as of 4:15 p.m.The Pacific storm favored the southern and central Colorado mountains, said Dave Byers, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.“Durango looks like a 70% chance of getting 6 inches or more of snow by the end of tonight (Friday),” Byers said.He expected a half inch to three-quarters of an inch of moisture from the storm, which is up from the one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch that was predicted earlier this week. Meanwhile, the mountains could receive 1 to 2 feet of snow from the storm, he said.“In the last few days, it has really picked up,” Byers said. “The southern mountains are catching the brunt of it.”The snowy weather didn’t stop Liz Ferrill and her family from stopping by Cream Bean Berry for a Unicorn Sundae. “We thought it might be a festive way to celebrate,” said Ferrill, who was visiting from Snowmass, where the first snow occurred in September.For others, the snow provided the impetus they needed to swap out tires or purchase new snow tires. Andre Payne, a sales person at J/P Tire in Durango, said the phone began ringing shortly after 9 a.m. with people wanting to switch to snow tires.“We’ve been pretty busy,” he said.

It is not unusual for drivers to wait until they see the first snow and then want to swap out tires. The tire shop began advising customers to switch to snow tires about three weeks ago. Some people take the advice, other choose to wait.“We can always tell people what to do, but if you're not ready for it then you have to suffer the consequences of waiting two hours or maybe getting in an accident,” Payne said.Byers said Friday’s storm was the result of a southwest flow pulling moisture from Southern California, Arizona and the Gulf of California.As the moisture-laden atmosphere hits the San Juan Mountains, it wrings out the moisture, he said.Temperatures are expected to cool off as the storm makes its way out of the region this weekend. The highs this weekend will be in the upper 30s, and the lows could dip into the single digits, he said.“There’s still a northerly flow that is pulling cold air down out of Canada,” he said.Byers characterized Friday’s storm as a “shoulder storm” between summer and winter, but he said it is a sure sign that a regular track is settling in for Southwest Colorado.“We’re expecting regular storms … from now on, more into that winter pattern,” Byers said.Residents can expect mostly clear conditions through Wednesday, with clouds moving in the following day ahead of another storm that looks “very similar” to Friday’s storm, Byers said.shane@durangoherald.com; mhollinshead@durangoherald.com

Forecasters say storm could dump 6 inches in Durango area

PHOTOS: Turkey Trot returns to DurangoNearly 600 competitors ran before they gobbled down their Thanksgiving feasts on Thursday

Nearly 600 competitors ran before they gobbled down their Thanksgiving feasts on Thursday

PHOTOS: Durango faces Lutheran in 3A state football quarterfinalsDemons fall to Lions, 39-30, on Saturday

Demons fall to Lions, 39-30, on Saturday

PHOTOS: Fort Lewis basketball teams host doubleheaderThe men’s team beat Western New Mexico 87-68, while the women’s team fell in the final minutes to Northern New Mexico, 67-62

The men’s team beat Western New Mexico 87-68, while the women’s team fell in the final minutes to Northern New Mexico, 67-62

Photos: Durango High School football faces Mead in 3A state playoffsThe Demons won Saturday’s playoff game, 31-27

The Demons won Saturday’s playoff game, 31-27

Photos: Veterans Day Parade

Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day

Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day

‹ Prev
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Next ›

Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox:

Choose from several print and digital subscription packages