The seven-day forecast sees sunny skies and high temperatures in the low 50s, with low temperatures in the low 20s and upper teens.
And if you liked our warm Christmas, you might also like the forecast for New Year’s Eve.
The high temperature on New Year’s Eve this year is expected to be around 50 degrees.
“Temperatures will drop to the upper teens by midnight,” said meteorologist Julie Malingowski of the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
Snowpack is 25 percent of average for this time of year for the San Miguel, Dolores, San Juan and Animas basins – the lowest average in the state.
Statewide snowpack increased to 62 percent of normal after a Christmas holiday snowstorm dropped more than a foot of snow in North Central Colorado, increasing avalanche danger to “high” in the mountain backcountry around Vail and Summit County and “considerable” in the Aspen and Steamboat Spring areas.
And while the dearth in snowfall in Southwest Colorado raises concerns over the fire danger next year, Malingowski said it is too early to make any calls on what to expect from the fire season.
“Fire danger takes a lot of variables, and it is too early in winter to be worried about that at this time,” she said.
“Once we get into January, that is when the San Juans start to see snowpack pick up.”
For the new year, look for a more active weather pattern starting around Jan. 6.
An area of high pressure over the West is blocking storms from reaching Southwest Colorado, and before the area can see snow, things need to change.
“That high pressure will retreat over the Pacific Ocean and allow jet streams to come further south, and allow weather systems to pass through,” Malingowski said. “That does not specify a storm, but the Four Corners needs this to get weather.”
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