A winter storm dropped several inches of snow in the Cortez area this weekend, adding to the holiday atmosphere Saturday night at the annual Four Corners Board of Realtors Parade of Lights on Main Street.
About 2.3 inches of snow fell in the area, and low temperatures are predicted to persist for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
For Monday, the weather service forecasts sunny skies, with a high near 19; wind chill values as low as minus 25; and north-northwest winds of about 10 mph.
Tuesday, the high is predicted to be 28 degrees and a low of 1 degree.
The weekend storm broke up the inversion that trapped cold air in the valley and temperatures are set to rise to the mid-30s by Thursday, local meteorologist Jim Andrus said.
Cortez is expected to have mostly partly cloudy skies for the rest of the week.
Andrus warned residents to watch for slippery patches on roadways and sidewalks over the next few days.
“With temperatures this cold, any snow or ice will be slow to melt,” Andrus said.
Cortez has received about 14 inches of precipitation so far this year, slightly more than the yearly average of about 13 inches, he said.
This is only the fourth time in 15 years Cortez has broken its yearly average.
Fresh powder also fell at local ski areas.
Hesperus reported 8 inches of snow falling on Sunday.
Over the weekend, Telluride reported 5 inches of new snow, and Durango Mountain Resort reported 15 inches.