Posted on 03/22/2023 12:03:18 PM PDT by george76
Snowfall and rain expected until end of week in Southwest Colorado..
Southwest Colorado residents expecting warmer spring temperatures may want to hold onto their winter jackets a little longer as more snow is expected throughout the week.
Yet another atmospheric river is passing through Southwest Colorado bringing snow primarily to the higher elevations.
Storms earlier this week have increased Durango’s snow total by 1 to 3 inches, said Scott Stearns, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
Cortez received about the same amount while Pagosa Springs received slightly more at 5 to 8 inches. Wolf Creek Pass received 24 inches Sunday through midday Tuesday.
Coal Bank and Molas passes were expected to receive about 15 inches through Tuesday, while Purgatory Resort reported 16 inches since Monday morning.
The U.S. Highway 550 mountain corridor north of Durango was expected to close at 5 p.m. Tuesday with no estimated time for reopening as a result of adverse weather conditions. Northbound travelers will encounter a closed gate just north of Purgatory, near Cascade Creek and southbound travelers will encounter a closed gate near Ouray.
U.S. Highway 160 east of Pagosa Springs over Wolf Creek Pass was expected to close at 6 a.m. Wednesday with no estimated time for reopening. Eastbound traffic will be stopped near Treasure Falls and westbound traffic will be stopped just west of Wolf Creek Ski Area near the summit of the mountain pass.
Stearns said snow is likely to occur Wednesday through Thursday morning depending on elevation with the potential for more precipitation over the weekend.
...
Coal Bank and Molas passes may receive 1 to 2 feet of snow through Thursday morning while Wolf Creek Pass could receive up to 3 feet.
Temperatures have been lower than normal for this time of year.
...
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center rates the San Juan National Forest’s avalanche danger as “extreme” as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. An avalanche warning is in effect through Thursday afternoon for the southern San Juan Mountains from the La Plata Mountains to Wolf Creek Pass to Cumbres and La Manga passes.
Glad to get the snow. Could use a good 2 day drizzle out in eastern plains.
But, but.....’they’ said there would be no more snow by...2000....by 2010....by 2015....by..by...bye bye!
Kirkwood in Cali has gotten over 600” this season. Mt. Rose ski area just south of Reno has a base depth of 12’-15’ with more on the way. But kids won’t even know what snow is right.
I was talking to a buddy in AZ this morning. He said that lake Powell is up from its low point, but it still is down dramatically from ten years ago.
Snow in SW Colorado will help.
I’ve taken to watch weather forcasters showing the rivers of rain/snow flowing in off the pacific.
imho its exciting. California reservoirs are nearly full. will be full when the snows melt.
It will take more than one great winter to fill lake powell and lake mead. but snow accumulations in the rockies are still rising. if they continue to rise at the current rate —they’ll exceed records in a month.
so far I’ve seen no signs of the pacific atmospheric rivers slowing down. at least for the next week or two there’s more coming.
OMG it’s up a half inch
My buddy usually rents a houseboat in the summer with some other friends. He didn’t do it the last couple summers because the lake was so low.
yup
The danger/’scrouge’ is acting like it is still winter.
I took a vacation after Christmas about 50 years ago by going from Kansas City to Durango in my new Audi Fox. It was a great car in snow. I crossed Wolf Creek Pass packed with snow and spent a couple of days in Durango and then did Coal Bank in a snow storm. LOL rolled a snowmobile later in the week with my wife on it. She did not like that but we were going only one mile an hour.
Wolf Creek Pass has been rebuilt since then. Not near as exciting. It is hard to distinguish which version of the Pass you are referring to as there was a version in the 50s and prior that was called Old Wolf Creek Pass that was still marked by road markers in the 70s when we were driving on (what was then) New Wolf Creek Pass. I guess we have New-New Wolf Creek Pass now.
Wolf Creek completely “modernized.” Pull offs. Wide lanes, etc.
Great hamburger joint near Purgatory N. of Durango.
I haven’t eaten there and today isn’t the day for everyone out there. 550 is closed just north of Purgatory resort all the way to Ouray.
So you are saying I couldn’t take the train to Silverton today? LOL!
Lake Powell and Lake Mead will both get some relief..
Arguably prettiest 25-30 miles in America tween Silverton and Ouray aside from the Going to the Sun road
First traveled it 1965 that I recall
Id gather black bear and yankee boy are shut lol
Anyone out there watch the “riding shotgun” channel?
Mtn. Mike is a trucker in the mountains of Colorado:
https://www.youtube.com/@ridingshotgun1251/videos
That’s an interesting and exciting drive in the summer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.