The National Weather Service issued a freeze watch for communities in Southwest Colorado, including Cortez, Mancos, Dove Creek, Towoac and Durango.
Late Wednesday through early Thursday, residents can expect lows in the 20s for lower-elevation communities, according to NWS forecaster Dennis Phillips.
“Around midnight, we’ll probably get close to freezing” Phillips said, adding cold temperatures could continue through early morning and predawn hours. “Once the sun pops up, it warms up pretty quickly, especially this time of year.”
Phillips said the frequency of freeze watches is related to the unusually warm weather that took over Southwest Colorado during winter and jump-started springtime foliage.
“Usually, you’d have a slower start to spring,” Phillips said. “But with March being especially warm, stuff started early and we had to start freeze watch and warnings earlier.”
The freeze watch cautions residents to protect sensitive vegetation and outdoor plumbing, with freezing temperatures putting tender plants and water pipes at risk.
After Thursday morning, weather will warm again with highs in the 70s and 80s for the rest of the week and into the early days of next week.
“We have very good chances of well above normal temperatures,” Phillips said.
Unfortunately for drought-riddled Southwest Colorado, the forecast is fairly dry and hot with most precipitation hitting the Front Range. However, at the tail end of the eight- to 14-day forecast, Cortez and it surroundings could see precipitation moving through.
“It just changes every day,” Phillips said.
avanderveen@the-journal.com
