A snow-producing storm carrying cold temperatures from the Pacific Northwest is expected to move into Southwest Colorado on New Year’s Eve and extend through New Year’s Day.
In Montezuma County, the storm is expected to produce up to 6 inches of snow Monday and Tuesday. The New Year’s Day low is forecast to sink to around zero degrees overnight.
Lower elevations in the Four Corners area and the upper Dolores River area are under a winter weather advisory from 6 a.m. Monday to noon Tuesday.
A winter weather advisory, which means periods of heavy snow are probable and are likely to create travel difficulties, also is in place from 6 p.m. Sunday until 9 a.m. Tuesday for the San Juan Mountains, including the towns of Hesperus, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride and Lake City. The northern San Juan Mountains began receiving snow from the system Sunday, and up to 8 inches accumulation is expected at higher mountain elevations.
The National Weather Service predicts sunny skies Wednesday through Saturday.
On Jan. 6 or Jan. 7, a subtropical storm could move into Southwest Colorado, according to Megan Stackhouse, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction. The storm could produce snow, but temperatures are likely to be warmer than the frosty New Year’s system.
The Durango Herald and The Journal contributed to this article.