With Southwest Colorado’s snowpack for the year just above half of normal historic averages, an approaching storm that is expected to drop up to 8 inches of snow in the San Juan Mountain high country is welcome news.
Tom Renwick, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, said snow is expected to begin falling in elevations above 10,000 feet in Southwest Colorado around midnight Monday.
The heavy precipitation is expected to fall around daybreak Tuesday, Renwick said. The storm is expected to continue through the afternoon. The region could see 5 to 8 inches of new snow from the storm.
Overnight lows Monday into Tuesday for Silverton are 18 degrees. Tuesday’s forecast is a high of 31 degrees.
The area’s ski resorts could even see a modest boost.
According to OpenSnow.com, Purgatory Resort could see up to 6 inches of new snow, while Wolf Creek Ski Area could get up to 9 inches of new snow.
In Durango, precipitation, if any, will remain as rain, Renwick said. There’s a chance of snow showers before noon Tuesday, but that will quickly turn to rain as daytime temperatures remain around 50 degrees.
A chance of rain mixed with snow is possible in Durango until late Tuesday night. The storm system could also bring thunder.
The rest of the week in Durango is expected to return to sunny and warm conditions, with highs in the low 60s.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
