Weather is always a wildcard during springtime in the Rocky Mountains – something that will be especially true this weekend and the beginning of early next week as two storms blow into Southwest Colorado.
The first wave of weather will arrive on Saturday, followed by another colder system on Monday. The systems are expected to bring rain and snow in the mountains, and the possibility of lightning, said Lucas Boyer, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
“We’ve got a system working ashore from out west that’s going to keep us in an unsettled pattern into the middle of next week,” he said. “It’s a big trough of low pressure that’s going to send little waves of energy at us.”
The first of the two storms, due to arrive Friday night and last through Saturday, could bring light rain to the Four Corners.
“Saturday looks to have more widespread showers and thunderstorms around the region,” Boyer said. “We’re not looking for a lot of heavy rain. But definitely cloudier and wetter than we have been.”
The second wave of precipitation will arrive Monday night and last into Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. That period will be 5 degrees colder than average, with the possibility of snow accumulation in the mountains, he said.
“We’ll probably see some light accumulation of snow on the mountain passes as that comes through and the temperatures drop,” Boyer said.
Residents should be aware of potentially icy roads if traveling over the high passes in the mountains.
“I think with the Tuesday morning commute, there could be some slick spots,” he said.
Additionally, those planning on traveling in the mountains could see the season’s first lightning.
“Folks should also be aware of lightning,” Boyer said. “If you’re in the mountains, especially, it’s easy to forget that lightning is a killer.”
He said an unsettled weather pattern is expected for the near-term forecast, bringing with it more chances for small precipitation events in the coming weeks.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
