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Batten down for 2nd storm

Up to 2 feet possible for area

Get ready for round two. It could be big.

The National Weather Service in Grand Junction issued another winter storm warning in effect through 8 p.m. Monday for the Bayfield, Durango and Ignacio area that could drop up to 2 feet of snow.

Weather Service technician Dan Cuevas said snow will continue to accumulate over the weekend and into Monday, beginning Saturday with 3 to 5 inches, but there could be other precipitation in the mix. Add some 10 to 15 mph winds, and things begin to get a little exciting out there.

“It’s not as cold as last week’s system, so we may see some rain with that,” he said.

Per usual, heavier snow is expected in the high country, and chain laws are already in effect for commercial vehicles on Coal Bank, Molas and Wolf Creek passes.

As of 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Wolf Creek Ski Area reported a new foot of snow in the last 24 hours, giving them 5 feet of new snow in the last week. Natural avalanches were noted above Wolf Creek Pass, and CDOT triggered slides, as well.

On Friday, two skier-triggered avalanches were reported to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center in the southern San Juan Mountains. There were no injuries, but one skier was caught and carried 100 feet after an avalanche released in the Deer Creek drainage. Two more avalanches were triggered by skiers on Red Mountain Pass.

The CAIC issued an avalanche watch through Sunday and advised against traveling in avalanche terrain.

The Colorado Department of Transportation did extensive avalanche control earlier this week, triggering several massive slides along the U.S. Highway 550 corridor north of Silverton. CDOT spokeswoman Nancy Shanks said control work was delayed Saturday because of poor visibility but will resume Sunday and Monday.

“If the hazards were high and it were unsafe to travel, we would not keep the road open,” she said. “We just like to keep things cleared out in anticipation of the new accumulation.”

Purgatory reported 4 inches in the last 24 hours, and 8 in the last 72 hours, putting it at 120 inches for the season. Telluride reported 1 inch, adding to its 36-inch total.

Leading the nation in snowfall is Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, with 36 inches in the last 3 days, according to Onthesnow.com. Twenty-one of those fell Saturday.

At least three minor accidents were reported in and around Durango, one involving a snowplow and a passenger vehicle within city limits.

Several flights to and from Durango-La Plata County Airport were canceled or delayed.

When the snow began to stick around Durango’s downtown area Saturday morning, Maddie Hart was serving fresh brew to early risers at Durango Joe’s Coffee.

She said while the snow is pretty, she’s not quite acclimated to Colorado weather.

“I’m from Texas, so I’m not really sure how it goes here, but it’s snowing, and it’s almost March, and that I’m not used to,” she said.

Hart is not alone. Plenty of locals grew accustomed to the spring-like conditions, with temperatures unseasonably warm in the upper 50s and lower 60s. But that’s Rocky Mountain weather; people were playing rounds of golf just a couple of weeks ago, and now, they’re cross-country skiing again.

Cuevas said March snow is typical.

“March can be very snowy,” he said. “The air masses aren’t as cold, and they can bring more moisture, and once it starts snowing, it can just snow more.”

As skiers began their weekend commute to the slopes – Shanks included – the transportation spokeswoman reported icy roads and advised travelers to take extra caution.

“People are spinning,” she said. “People need to creep along and be smart. Don’t follow too closely. If the person in front of you is spinning out, you have a chance to stop.”

CDOT crews are on storm patrol shifts, working around the clock, spreading traction sand and managing snow.

“If more are needed, we call them in,” Shanks said.

CDOT has 106 pieces of snow removal and avalanche equipment to manage 1,750 lane miles – the combined lengths of each lane – and five mountain passes.

The National Weather Service is calling for snow throughout the weekend, with highs Saturday around 36, low 26 and east winds at 5 to 10 mph. Sunday’s high will be around 40 and the low 28.

bmathis@durangoherald.com

Feb 27, 2015
Get ready for snow


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