More snow is expected for Southwest Colorado as a storm moves through the region this weekend, with another following next week.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the southwest San Juan Mountains, specifically the towns of Silverton, Rico and Hesperus. The advisory will be in effect from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Sunday, with precipitation temporarily tapering off Saturday night before increasing Sunday.
“Travel could be very difficult, especially over mountain passes,” said Brianna Bealo, meteorologist with the Weather Service. “If anybody’s going to be traveling this weekend, they’re definitely going to want to pay attention and be prepared for adverse travel conditions.”
The storm is dropping in from the northern Pacific Coast, and weather models show it will split when it is above the Utah area. Part will head south over southern Colorado, and part will head north, Bealo said.
Cortez is expected to receive a couple of inches of snow on Friday and an inch on Saturday. Snow showers also are likely through Tuesday
Higher areas could see 6 to 15 inches depending on the elevation. Greater snow buildup is expected for elevations higher than 8,000 feet.
“It’s a little bit uncertain still. With the way this thing is splitting, it’s hard to tell how much energy and moisture is going to be with it,” Bealo said. “We’re still watching and seeing how it’s going to develop.”
A storm earlier this week, which dropped about 10 inches of snow on Durango, followed a similar trajectory. The Weather Service is tracking another winter storm with a similar pattern that is expected to pass over southern Colorado next week.
A detailed map of snowfall can be found at www.weather.gov/gjt/winter. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 511.
smullane@durangoherald.com