Sometimes late is better than never.
A winter storm that was expected to arrive Tuesday will instead roll into Southwest Colorado on Friday, said Dan Cuevas, a technician with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
The bulk of the moisture associated with the system broke off from the main flow, making it difficult to forecast, Cuevas said. “But right now, that’s what we’re planning on – a Friday or Saturday passage,” he said.
The storm is expected to bring rain and snow to lower elevations like Durango and Cortez, and 4 to 8 inches of snow above 9,000 feet in elevation, he said.
Scattered showers moved through Southwest Colorado Tuesday, and additional showers are expected Wednesday, Cuevas said.
Forecasters were calling for a 40% chance of precipitation Wednesday in Durango with a high of 53 degrees. Elevations above 8,500 feet could receive 2 to 4 inches of snow, he said.
Thursday has a chance of fog in the morning, but will otherwise be mostly sunny, Cuevas said. Clouds will roll in Thursday night, he said.
Forecasters said there is a 90% chance of rain Friday in Cortez and Durango with a high near 50 degrees. There’s a continuing chance of snow Saturday morning, with moisture turning to rain by midmorning in Cortez. By Saturday night, the chance of precipitation will diminish, but clouds and cool temperatures will linger for the remainder of the weekend, Cuevas said.
shane@durangoherald.com