Regional News – The Durango Herald

Colorado Supreme Court ends fisherman’s right-to-wade argument

Roger Hill sued, arguing a riverbed is public property open for wading anglers

DATE: Jun 5, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado weather: How much rain to expect this week

Rain and thunderstorms return to much of state, while the high country is getting snow

DATE: Jun 5, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Weekly planner for May 5 – 9

Information and agendas about local meetings: City of Durango: www.durangogov.org or call 375-5000. La Plata County: www.co.laplata.co.us or call 382-6210. Town of Bayfield...

DATE: Jun 5, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter

Durango Police Department Thursday 7:33 a.m. Multiple people in a backyard in the 200 block of Rock Point Drive were arrested on suspicion of illegal camping. 9:23 a.m. A two-car cra...

DATE: Jun 2, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Ghost guns banned under new Colorado law signed by governor

DENVER – Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Friday banning firearms that are assembled at home or 3D-printed without serial numbers, practices that allowed owners to evade background ch...

DATE: Jun 2, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

At least 17 people died at Colorado ski areas during the 2022-23 winter season

Two of those deaths occurred at Purgatory Resort

DATE: Jun 2, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter

Durango Police Department Wednesday 8:26 a.m. A person in the 21000 block of U.S. Highway 160 west of Durango was arrested on suspicion of illegal camping. 1:50 p.m. A man in the 23...

DATE: Jun 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

How Colorado’s U.S. House delegation voted on the federal debt ceiling bill

The hard-fought deal pleased few, but lawmakers assessed it was better than the alternative

DATE: Jun 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter

Durango Police Department Tuesday 7:33 a.m. A Chevy Silverado was stolen from the 200 block of Forest Avenue. 1:58 p.m. A parking issue in the 900 block of Narrow Gauge Avenue result...

DATE: May 31, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

A new report helps Colorado mountain towns navigate growth challenges

Report maps out a way communities can escape confounding stresses in rural, amenity-rich regions

DATE: May 31, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter

Durango Police Department Monday 12:50 a.m. A traffic stop in the 1800 block of Main Avenue resulted in an arrest. 2:41 a.m. A person in the 1500 block of Main Avenue was arrested on...

DATE: May 30, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

‘A season to celebrate’ as U.S., Rocky Mountain ski areas experience record visitation

Snow always draws skiers and this winter was no exception to that industry rule

DATE: May 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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

Photo gallery: Fort Lewis men’s soccerFort Lewis Men’s Soccer falls to Colorado State University Pueblo

Fort Lewis Men’s Soccer falls to Colorado State University Pueblo

Colorado Supreme Court ends fisherman’s right-to-wade argument

Colorado weather: How much rain to expect this week

Weekly planner for May 5 – 9

The Blotter

Ghost guns banned under new Colorado law signed by governor

At least 17 people died at Colorado ski areas during the 2022-23 winter season

The Blotter

How Colorado’s U.S. House delegation voted on the federal debt ceiling bill

The Blotter

A new report helps Colorado mountain towns navigate growth challenges

The Blotter

‘A season to celebrate’ as U.S., Rocky Mountain ski areas experience record visitation

Videos & Photos

Search Directory Plus

Most Popular

Most Recent

Ballantine Communications, Inc.

Contact Us

Find Us

Subscribe

Log In

Videos & Photos

Search Directory Plus

Most Popular

Most Recent

Ballantine Communications, Inc.

Contact Us

Find Us

Subscribe