The Colorado Department of Transportation clears snow Tuesday morning on Coal Bank Pass.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
About 10 inches of snow accumulated by Tuesday morning on Coal Bank Pass, as one of the first snow storms this season moved through the area. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Coal Bank Pass north of Purgatory Resort received about 10 inches of snow Monday night and Tuesday morning, in one of the season’s first snow storms. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Purgatory Resort received about 5 inches as of Tuesday morning. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A Colorado Department of Transportation plow clears snow Tuesday on U.S. Highway 550 on Coal Bank Pass.
The San Juan Mountains received 5 to 10 inches of snow late Monday and early Tuesday, north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Traction laws were in place on U.S. Highway 550 for Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain passes Tuesday morning. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Warmer-than-expected temperatures produced less snow than expected in the San Juan Mountains. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A paddle board and canoes rest in still water Tuesday near Purgatory Resort. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Trees and mountain passes were iced over with snow late Monday and early Tuesday, north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Clouds parted Tuesday morning at Purgatory Resort, revealing snowy slopes. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
About 10 inches of snow fell late Monday and early Tuesday on Coal Bank Pass. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A bench atop Coal Bank Pass with about 10 inches of snow from late Monday and early Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A wet southern storm that collided with cool northern air failed to produce as much snow as expected Monday night and Tuesday morning in the San Juan Mountains north of Durango.
Highway officials reported 3 to 5 inches of snow overnight on the roads of Molas and Red Mountain passes around Silverton, said Lisa Schwantes, spokeswoman with the Colorado Department of Transportation. More snow, up to 10 inches, accumulated along the sides of Coal Bank Pass. Purgatory Resort reported 5 inches as of Tuesday morning.
As of 11:45 a.m., all chain laws and passenger vehicle traction laws were lifted on Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain passes.
“They were expecting a whole lot more,” Schwantes said. “They were ready to push a lot of snow, and it just didn’t come.”
Even though snow was light, road conditions were slick Tuesday morning on mountain passes. A white pickup slid off the road about two miles from the summit on the south side of Coal Bank Pass, north of Durango, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, who was en route at 9:45 a.m. to provide traffic control.
“It’s foggy, wet and slushy – snow on the road,” he said.
Dennis Phillips, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, said warmer-than-expected temperatures resulted in more rain and less snow sticking to roads.
La Plata County residents reported sleet-like conditions at about 7,000 feet in elevation, with snow accumulation at higher elevations, including Forest Lakes subdivision. Durango, at 6,512 feet, saw only rain.
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