Published at 5:30 am Monday
Here are the latest Warnings and Advisories. Remember the wording is everything when you read these. The Durango and Pagosa area’s advisory is calling for 3 to 6 inches additional snow. The Silverton-Rico Warning is calling for storm totals (including what has already fallen) of 8 to 18 inches. The Telluride Advisory is for 5 to 10 inches between 5 pm tonight and 5 pm Tuesday. The Wolf Creek Warning is calling for 1 to 2 feet of additional snow.
By the way, the main low pressure is just now coming onshore in Central California.
COZ022-023-282145-
/O.CON.KGJT.WW.Y.0029.000000T0000Z-201229T1600Z/
ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF DURANGO, BAYFIELD, IGNACIO,
AND PAGOSA SPRINGS
305 AM MST MON DEC 28 2020
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM MST
TUESDAY ABOVE 6500 FEET…
* WHAT…PERIODS OF SNOW ABOVE 6500 FEET. ADDITIONAL SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS
ALONG THE BASE OF THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.
* WHERE…SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN AND ANIMAS RIVER BASIN.
* WHEN…UNTIL 9 AM MST TUESDAY.
* IMPACTS…PLAN ON ICY TO SNOWPACKED ROAD CONDITIONS DURING THE MORNING AND NIGHT-TIME PERIODS.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
COZ019-282145-
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.W.0013.000000T0000Z-201230T0000Z/
SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF SILVERTON, RICO, AND HESPERUS
305 AM MST MON DEC 28 2020
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST
TUESDAY…
* WHAT…MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AT TIMES THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 16 INCHES WEST OF
HIGHWAY 550…12 TO 18 WITH WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS EAST OF
HIGHWAY 550. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 45 MPH ABOVE 10000 FEET.
* WHERE…SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.
* WHEN…UNTIL 5 PM MST TUESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. PATCHY
BLOWING SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
COZ018-282145-
/O.CON.KGJT.WW.Y.0029.201229T0000Z-201230T0000Z/
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF TELLURIDE, OURAY, AND LAKE CITY
305 AM MST MON DEC 28 2020
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 5 PM MST TUESDAY…
* WHAT…SNOW EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS UP TO A FOOT. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 45 MPH ABOVE 10000 FEET.
* WHERE…NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.
* WHEN…FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 PM MST TUESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES DUE TO ICY AND
SNOWPACKED CONDITIONS. PATCHY BLOWING SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
350 AM MST MON DEC 28 2020
COZ067-068-281900-
/O.CON.KPUB.WS.W.0012.000000T0000Z-201230T0000Z/
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW
10000 FEET-EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET-
350 AM MST MON DEC 28 2020
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST
TUESDAY…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2
FEET WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE, EXCEPT 7 TO 14
INCHES FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 45
MPH.
* WHERE…EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET AND UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY BELOW 10000 FEET.
* WHEN…UNTIL 5 PM MST TUESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. PATCHY
BLOWING SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS COULD IMPACT THE MORNING AND EVENING
COMMUTES WITH SNOW PACKED ROADS AND POOR VISIBILITY.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The models underestimated the snowfall overnight. It was an overrunning event. It happens when a warmer moist airmass goes over a cold dense air mass. In our region, it usually falls as snow but can sometimes lead to an icing event as you see in the south every winter.
If you are in the mid and lower elevations the precipitation is going to be on and off, until it picks up again later today. The snow level should be between 6,500 and 7,000 feet before lowering to all elevations tonight.
I will Update when the morning high-resolution models generate. I am anxious to hear everyone’s overnight totals. For now, no change to forecasted totals. Thanks for following!
Without actually using a measuring device I would say Bayfield, close to the high school, got 2-3″ overnight. Not snowing right now @ 6 a.m.
Bayfield, S of 160, solid 3″ near Primary school.