A storm dumped about 5 inches of snow early Sunday in Durango.
Data from the National Weather Service in Grand Junction shows Coal Bank Pass received about 8.5 inches between the hours of 6 and 8 a.m. Sunday.
The storm also produced 5 to 7 inches in Pagosa Springs and 2 to 4 inches in Cortez.
Snowstorms are expected to start again late Sunday.
Road conditions along U.S. Highway 550 northbound from the New Mexico state line to U.S. Highway 160 were snowpacked and icy in spots Sunday morning.
Commercial vehicles and buses were required to have chains or alternative traction devices, and passenger vehicles were required to have snow tires or chains when driving up north on Highway 550 over Coal Bank Pass.
Red Mountain Pass received about 3 inches of snow, and Mancos, nearly 7 inches. Road conditions from Mancos to Durango were snowpacked and icy in spots.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center rates avalanche danger as considerable in the San Juan National Forest near Silverton.
Storms can be expected Monday afternoon through Tuesday.
“After that, we are going to go back to more storms coming out of the Pacific Northwest as opposed to these systems which have been moving through Southern California and tend to favor the southern region of the state,” said NWS meteorologist Kris Sanders.
Durango temperatures after Thursday are expected to be cold with lows that may drop below zero degrees. Snowstorms Monday through Tuesday could bring between 12 and 16 inches, according to Sanders.
As of 11 a.m. Sunday, no flights leaving or arriving in Durango have been canceled, according to the city of Durango’s website. Durango School District 9-R will not be in session tomorrow in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Colorado Charter School Institute schools, Animas High School and Mountain Middle School will also be closed in recognition of the holiday.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
