Winter storm provides an early start to a white Christmas

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. Wednesday above 6,000 feet in the Upper Dolores River, Animas River and San Juan River basins. Including the cities of Cortez, Dove Creek, Mancos, Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, Pagosa Springs and vicinity.

Up to eight inches of snow is expected, according to the National Weather Service.

Roads will become icy and snowpacked, and gusty winds will generate blowing snow and decreased visibility.

Snow is expected to continue falling into Friday, Christmas Day.

Jim Andrus, a local weather watcher for the National Weather Service, reports that the Cortez area is at 136 percent of normal for precipitation levels for 2015.

As of Saturday, the Dolores River Basin Snotels were showing snowpack in the San Juans Mountains at 99 percent of normal.

The El Niño weather phenomenon is expected to bring more moisture to the Southwest this winter.

“The jet stream is over western Colorado bringing more storms further south,” Andrus said.