The Journal
The Cortez area has received a half-inch of rain since Monday, and more is likely on the way.
“The next system will start moving in around noon on Saturday, bringing widespread rainfall to the valleys and accumulating snow to the mountains,” the National Weather Service said. “Snow levels will be around 10,000 feet at the start of the event and drop to 8,500 to 9,000 feet by Sunday afternoon as colder air moves in.”
The low-pressure is expected to move out on Monday, but a system from the north could keep precipitation going through Wednesday. “Hunters and other members of the public that plan to be outdoors this weekend, especially in the mountains, need to pay attention to upcoming forecasts and latest snowfall forecasts,” the weather service said.
The weather service’s forecast for Montezuma County calls for a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Saturday, a 70-80 percent chance on Saturday night through Sunday night and a 60 percent chance on Monday. High temperatures are expected to fall from the low 60s on Saturday to the low 50s through Tuesday. Lows are expected to drop from 45 degrees on Saturday night to 39 on Tuesday.
Mostly sunny skies were expected to return to the county on Wednesday and Thursday, with highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 40s.
According to the extended outlook for the Cortez area, there is a 53 percent chance that the average temperature through December will be above normal – higher than 40.7 degrees. There’s a 31 percent chance that the average temperature through December will be near normal, from 39 and 40.7 degrees. The extended outlook also gives a 44 to 53 percent chance that temperatures will be above normal throughout 2019.
The extended outlook is based on current weather conditions compared with a 30-year history of temperatures in Montezuma County, from 1981 through 2010.
This week’s rain provided for relief for the low-running Dolores River. Water flows on the river increased from just over 11 cubic feet per second on Monday to 150 cfs on Thursday. The average flow rate for Oct. 4 is 146 cfs.
