The National Weather Service expects temperatures to remain in the upper 80s or lower 90s into next week.
Meteorologists said residents can expect “warm, dry and breezy” conditions this weekend. Clouds may provide temporary relief, but no precipitation is expected until Wednesday or Thursday.
The monsoon that typically delivers afternoon rain to Southwest Colorado this time of year has been temporarily interrupted. The Weather Service said the position of the seasonal weather pattern is a little too far west to deliver its moisture.
In Southwest Colorado, the monsoon does not always mean torrential downpours; rather, it is a shift in wind direction with an intermittent flow of moisture, according to the Weather Service.
The amount of precipitation depends on how the system sets up from week to week. The Weather Service said the setup has not been good for bringing rain this week, resulting in sunny skies and hotter temperatures.
Residents are feeling the heat, but it’s not stopping them from enjoying the outdoors..
Durango resident Jaren Gisner spent Friday morning lounging at “Paradise” beach along the Animas River across from the high school. He said when temperatures are on the rise, he enjoys cliff jumping and swimming at the local watering holes, including Navajo Lake.
“It’s been really hot,” Gisner said. He said it’s been hotter this summer than in the past: “At least it feels like it.”
Gisner has no air conditioning in his apartment, he said.
“Oh dude, it’s awful; (I have) so many fans,” he said.
Some residents are breaking down and buying air-conditioning units.
Fahrenheit Enterprises in Gem Village received 15 inquiries about air-conditioning units during the spring compared with 30 calls after temperatures ramped up this summer, said Neil Ishmael, who does estimating and sales.
When temperatures reach triple digits, air-conditioning units can be stressed and overworked.
Marco Nij, owner of Marco’s Heating A/C & Refrigeration, said his company has been repairing about five air-conditioning units per day.
Daily temperatures this month have frequently been 5 to 7 degrees warmer than average.
The average high temperature this time of year is somewhere around 83 to 85 degrees, according to the Weather Service.
Brian Slaughter, who spent part of his Friday morning on the Animas River Trail, said little heat waves are par for the course.
“Seems like we always have a little heat spell,” Slaughter said.
bmandile@durangoherald.com