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First of spring showers?

Mountains likely to get big drop of powder

The first of spring’s showers may arrive in Durango over the next three days, while the mountains are likely to get at least one more good snow storm.

The forecast for elevations below 9,000 feet is for scattered showers and thunderstorms starting this afternoon. The chance for precipitation in Durango is 40 percent today and tonight, dropping to 30 percent Thursday.

“There are three little systems coming through,” said meteorologist Jeff Colton from the Grand Junction Office of the National Weather Service. “The potential’s there for a quarter to half an inch of rain, but it’s going to be hit or miss. If you are under a steady shower, you may get some good rain.”

While there are blizzard warnings along the coast in the northeastern U.S., the San Juan Mountains are expecting a more manageable amount.

“Winter is coming back around,” Colton said. “Purgatory may see 6 to 12 inches from this.”

Higher elevations are under a winter storm watch from 6 p.m. today until 9 a.m. Friday with an 80 percent chance of snow during that period. Winds with gusts up to 35 to 45 mph may cause snow to limit visibility for drivers.

A cold front associated with the three systems will bring temperatures down markedly from Tuesday’s balmy mid-60s. The highs for Thursday and Friday are predicted to be in the mid-40s in town and the low 30s at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort.

Colton said small systems may also come through the area on Sunday and Tuesday night into Wednesday.

“There’s a potential to drop some moisture from that,” he said.

The long-term forecast continues to be for warmer-than-normal temperatures through June, with average to near-normal precipitation, he said.

“We should see the occasional storm coming through,” he said, “and there will probably be some moisture.”

abutler@durangoherald.com



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