Snowdown – The Durango Herald

Beards battle it out at Carver’s

Nathan Hammond was impressed by the level of competition at Snowdown’s Beard Competition. “I do have a decent beard, and I was really cocky coming into this,” he said. “I am humbl...

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Itâ€™s a marathon, not a sprint

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Looking for love, steampunk style

People of all ages looking for love gathered in the Rochester Hotel Thursday night for two rounds of speed dating. The 40 slots offered at the event filled up fast, and the onlook...

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Water slide bliss turns into endurance grind

Ten people started the Water-Slide-Athon but only three people were still running up the stairs to the slide four hours later. Tiffany Bergman, climbed 39 stairs 222 times to win ...

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Lost steam

Snowdown barely channels Steampunk in this year’s Follies

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Arts and Entertainment

That’s a phat, phat, phat burger!

No one managed to shove 6 pounds of burger down their throat Thursday night at the Phat Phat Phat Burger Eat Off, but one man got terribly close. Pedro Cordova said he felt like h...

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Snow (or rain) may make appearance at parade

Snowdown Light Parade in the eye of S.W. Colorado storm

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Hot chocolate + parade = bliss

Alternative Horizons raising funds during Snowdown

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Oyster slurping showdown

The oysters were smaller this year at the Shuckin’ Suckin’ Oyster Slurping Contest, and Chris Feely and C.J. Wise were champions under Thursday’s performance-enhancing conditions. ...

DATE: Jan 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Fashion Do's and Don'ts

The annual Snowdown Fashion Do's and Don'ts held Wednesday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.

DATE: Jan 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Gallery

Oh, Snow you didn’t ...

Fashion, a spelling bee, bartenders mixing away, even kayakers braving the temperature-controlled environs of the Durango Community Recreation Center. Yes, once again, Snowdown ha...

DATE: Jan 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Where do they find these words?

Spellebration challenges language lovers

DATE: Jan 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Local News

Photos: Funeral procession for Cortez Police Sgt. Michael MoranHundreds of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran

Hundreds of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran

PHOTOS: Fort Lewis basketball teams entertain Adams StateFLC men win 100-80 on Tuesday, women lose 76-56

FLC men win 100-80 on Tuesday, women lose 76-56

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

Beards battle it out at Carver’s

Itâ€™s a marathon, not a sprint

Looking for love, steampunk style

Water slide bliss turns into endurance grind

Lost steam

That’s a phat, phat, phat burger!

Snow (or rain) may make appearance at parade

Hot chocolate + parade = bliss

Oyster slurping showdown

Fashion Do's and Don'ts

Oh, Snow you didn’t ...

Where do they find these words?

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