Ice and snow caused truckers to chain up and slowed traffic to 35 mph on stretches of U.S. Highway 160 from Mancos to Durango on Wednesday morning as a second storm in as many days hit Southwest Colorado.
During the afternoon, whiteout conditions existed on U.S. 160 from Hesperus to the Mancos Hill.
Schools in Cortez, Dolores and Mancos sent students home early because of dangerous weather conditions.
“The strongest snowfall is expected to come within the next six or so hours,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Braeden Winters before noon on Wednesday. Mancos and Dolores could see up to 4 inches of additional accumulation, with light snow lasting through the evening.
| Montezuma-Cortez School District | Early release of all students by 3:10 p.m. |
| Dolores School District | Canceled all after-school activities and practices |
| Mancos School District | Early release of all students at 3:30 p.m., canceled all after-school activities and practices |
Snowplows were clearing roads between Cortez and Durango, with two plows active on that portion of U.S. 160 as of 3:05 p.m. With up to 8 inches of snow expected in Rico, the Colorado Department of Transportation warned drivers of ice and snowpack on Colorado Highway 145 north from Cortez.
“Traveling conditions could become relatively difficult,” Winters said. “Practice caution if you do need to go out.”
Purgatory Ski Resort proclaimed a “powder day” as the area witnessed 13 inches of snowfall in the past 24 hours.
| Purgatory Resort | 41 inches |
| Telluride Ski Resort | 42 inches |
| Wolf Creek Ski Area | 67 inches (midway snow depth) |
| Crested Butte Mountain Resort | 46 inches |
On Wednesday morning, Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin said his office had yet to receive any crash reports on the roadways.
While snow hit higher elevations, Cortez residents awoke to a gray morning of dry sidewalks and low, ominous clouds.
“We could get a little bit of snow today,” National Weather Service meteorologist Kris Sanders said. “It’s going to be tough because temperatures are above freezing.”
Sanders said it could be a “quick hit” before a second weather system moves in later this week.
“We’ll get a brief lull in precipitation on Thursday late morning to afternoon before things kick in probably Thursday evening,” Winters said.
A storm is expected to pass over the Four Corners region Thursday night, with scattered showers expected in Cortez on Friday and precipitation projected to end by the evening. By Friday evening, Cortez could see 3 to 6 inches of snow. Mountain regions could see 6 to 12 inches, which Sanders warned could impact early morning commuters.
“There could be some travel issues Friday morning,” Sanders said.
Until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Cortez was under a wind advisory, expecting gusts over 50 mph. In the mountains, gusts could reach upward of 70 mph.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center announced an avalanche warning for the San Juan Mountains as high winds coupled with heavy snow threaten the area.
The risk, assessed on a scale of one to five, was at four, meaning high, from 6 a.m. Wednesday through Thursday.
“We have what I would call a different episode taking place now featuring more chances of precipitation,” said local weather spotter Jim Andrus. “Which comes to a pause this weekend with warmer, drier weather.”
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center called this storm the “biggest” of the season.
This story will be updated when additional information becomes available.
avanderveen@the-journal.com
