The week might have started out soggy, but by the weekend, Southwest Coloradans should be enjoying barbecue weather.
Things should clear out Wednesday night with dry and warm conditions for the rest of the week, said Erin Walter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
Widespread rain and snow in Southwest Colorado on Tuesday morning broke up into isolated rainfall at lower elevations and snowfall at higher elevations by Tuesday afternoon.
Late afternoon on Wednesday, Southwest Colorado will see the back side of the storm, with isolated rain and snow expected, Walter said.
“We will be warming up. Basically, (Tuesday) will be the coolest day in the week. And then we’ll start to warm and dry up starting (Wednesday),” Walter said. “Saturday looks to be the warmest day of the week.”
Saturday’s high for Montezuma County is expected to hit 77.
Silverton and Telluride were expected get up to 2 inches of snow by Tuesday night with the highest peaks in the San Juan Mountains expected to receive up to 6 inches, Walter said.
As of Tuesday, the Natural Resources Conservation Service Snotel map showed the snowpack in Southwest Colorado at 57% of the 30-year average.
The likelihood of improving the snowpack in the next month doesn’t look favorable.
The Climate Prediction Center estimates a 30% to 40% chance that Southwest Colorado will be below normal in precipitation for the next month.
A La Niña weather pattern continues, and that favors dryer than normal conditions for Southwest Colorado.
The Climate Prediction Center estimates there is a 50% chance that the La Niña pattern will break up this spring, creating a neutral weather pattern for North America entering summer.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
