Precipitation is still expected to move through Pagosa Country from Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Sunday, Dec. 28, with forecasts predicting a rain/snow mix at lower elevations and heavier snow accumulations in the mountains.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the high in Pagosa Springs for Dec. 23 is forecast at 52 degrees with a chance of rain and snow showers before 7 a.m., a slight chance of snow showers between 7 and 8 a.m., then to a chance of rain showers after 8 a.m. A calm southwest wind of 5 mph is also expected with a total chance of precipitation listed at 30 percent.
Rain and snow showers are expected into the night with a chance of precipitation rising to 80 percent and a low around 35 degrees. Little to no snow accumulation is expected.
On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the high in Pagosa Springs is forecast at 51 degrees with a 90 percent chance of precipitation. Rain and snow showers are expected early in the morning, becoming mostly rain by 8 a.m.
Rain is expected into the evening, turning to snow with a low of 32 degrees and a 60 percent chance of precipitation into the night.
Snow showers are expected Friday morning, Dec. 26, turning to a rain/snow mix by 10 a.m. with a high of 48 degrees and a 60 percent chance of precipitation. A rain/snow mix is expected to continue throughout the day, turning to mostly snow after 8 p.m. The low is forecast at 24 degrees for that night.
For Saturday, Dec. 27, a chance of snow showers is expected before noon, turning to rain/snow mix with a high near 45 degrees. A slight chance of snow showers is expected that evening with a low near 19 degrees.
On Sunday, Dec. 27, there is a chance of rain and snow showers with partly sunny skies and a high of 47 degrees during the day. Mostly cloudy skies and a low near 19 degrees are expected for Sunday night.
Wolf Creek Pass
The NWS is forecasting slightly colder temperatures and snow accumulation along Wolf Creek Pass, with a total of 2 to 6 inches of snow expected to fall starting on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Thursday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
The high for both of those days is forecast at 34 degrees with lows near 31 degrees and 27 degrees, respectively.
For Friday, Dec. 26, the high along Wolf Creek Pass is forecast at 28 degrees, with a 60 percent chance of snow showers and breezy with a southwest wind of 20 to 25 mph and gusts as high as 45 mph. The low for that night is forecast at 21 degrees with a 50 percent chance of precipitation and wind gusts as high as 35 mph.
For Saturday, Dec. 27, there is a 60 percent chance of snow showers with a high of 24 degrees forecasted. A 30 percent chance of snow showers is expected into the evening with a low around 15 degrees.
For Sunday, Dec. 28, there is a chance of snow showers with partly sunny skies and a high near 28 degrees. The low is forecast at 19 degrees with mostly cloudy skies.
Other forecasts
According to a forecast by Shawn Prochazka with Pagosa Weather, slick roads are expected on Wednesday, Dec. 24, on Wolf Creek Pass.
Prochazka notes that from Wednesday afternoon through Friday evening, Dec. 26, mountains above 9,500 feet are expected to receive 10 to 16 inches of snowfall, with the Pagosa area expected to receive a half inch to an inch of rain.
Prochazka also notes that most of that precipitation will fall from midnight Wednesday to midnight Thursday.
According to Prochazka’s forecast, scattered showers will persist from Friday into Monday, Dec. 29.
Snow amounts expected for that time period for elevations above 8,500 feet are 4 to 8 inches, with 1 to 3 inches expected for elevations between 7,500 and 8,500 feet. For elevations less than 7,500 feet, less than an inch of snow accumulation is expected.
Prochazka notes that forecast confidence for this period is still low, with more details to come as the storm gets closer. Visit pagosaweather.org for additional information.
Forecasts from AccuWeather show an 88 percent chance of precipitation on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, consisting of a rain/snow mix in Pagosa Springs with a high of 49 degrees.
There is a 55 percent chance of precipitation the following day, Friday, Dec. 26, and a 60 percent chance of a rain/snow mix on Saturday, Dec. 27.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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