A winter storm predicted for Sunday is expected to drop snow in the San Juan Mountains and pour rain in the valleys followed by cold temperatures that could make Monday morning’s commute slick, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
A forecast six to 10 inches of snow is expected to fall above 8,500-feet elevation starting tonight and continuing throughout the day Sunday, said Meteorologist Matthew Aleksa. Weather observers have issued a winter weather advisory from midnight tonight to 9 a.m. Monday for the northwest and southwest San Juan Mountains.
Purgatory Resort reported nine inches of snow after a storm earlier this week and opened Lift 3 and the back side of the mountain on Saturday. At least 60 of the 105 trail at the resort were reported open as of Saturday morning.
The foothills around the San Juan Mountains may get some snow, but not much more than an inch or two, Aleksa said. A rain and snow mix is predicted throughout much of the day Sunday with colder temperatures blowing into the region Sunday evening, he said.
Temperatures Monday morning are forecast in the low to mid-20s, and with “any precipitation that does fall – the roads could be slick as that water freezes over,” Aleksa said. The air is expected to warm to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday afternoon.
The cold is expected again Tuesday morning with temperatures predicted in the low teens, Aleksa said.
bhauff@durangoherald.com
