2/17/25 Monday 5 am
My two biggest takeaways on this storm:
- The impressive totals at or above 6,400 feet. They were much higher than expected, especially in and around Durango.
- The storm track was most favorable for Montezuma, La Plata County, and San Juan County before moving more north than east. Although 20 inches is nothing to sneeze at, for all intents and purposes, Wolf Creek got jipped!
The ENSO discussion came out last week, and a case can be made that we are starting to nudge out of La Nina and “March” towards a more neutral state. When and as that occurs, we will see a pattern change into a wetter outlook. This could result in a prolonged winter or an early wet spring. Either way, we need the moisture.
This week, there is a chance of snow this evening, particularly over the northern half of the forecast area. There is another chance of snow on Friday; we’ll see!
I want to take a second to address discrepancies in snow totals. Ideally, when snow is wet and heavy, you need to measure and remove about every 4 inches of snowfall to get an accurate total. I know there are a lot of diligent people who do that. I also know that it would be impossible for everyone to do that. It takes a lot of commitment and spare time on your hands. You also need a system in place and a dedicated measuring site on a non-reactive flat surface. If you measure off your deck railing, your driveway, or a tree branch, or how high the snow comes up your boot, you will get mixed results compared to someone with a system.
That said, here are the snow reports from mid and higher elevations.
DWG HQ in DW2 19.5″
North end Vallecito 16.5
Upper Durango Hills – 16 inches
Two Miles East of Edgemont – 18 inches
Hesperus 18”
Longhollow 15”
Los Ranchitos – 18.5”
Rico 18.5
Durango Hills 13.5
Hidden Ridge Ranch 16″
Lower Falls Creek 16
Deer Valley 12
Timberdale, 14″
13” 15 miles E of Pagosa
Falls Creek Ranch 15”
Shenandoah Highlands 18″
Silver Creek Ranch 22.5″
East Durango Ridge Ranch 17 1/2”
West Pagosa 10”
20″ – summit lake, Mancos.
Forest Lakes 13
Upper Forest Lakes 18
Near Purgatory 28
Edgemont Highlands – 16
CR228/CR502 intersection 7850 ft = 13.25″
Rockwood 20.5″
Rafter J (7400′) : 16″
Falls Creek Ranch- 18
Wilderness Lake, 9000 ‘, 16 inches
Upper Enchanted Forest- 18”
Upper) Shenandoah Highlands (7,600′) 13 3/4″.
Spud Hill 7860′, 16″
Los Ranchitos Estates 17”
Eagle Ridge of Bayfield 14.5″ @ 7600
3 miles N of Mancos 7400′ 20
Ouray near school… 6.25 – 7.5″ SOG
O-Bar-0 7612 feet 16 inches
Vallecito off CR500, 19”
CO 500 1 mile south of Vallecito north campground – 24.5”
Los Ranchitos 18 in
And the winner, who, by the way, has his own snowstake at his dedicated measuring site.
Hermosa Cliffs Ranch 34.9”. This location is about +/-9,300 feet, just south of Purgatory.