Pagosa Country has been experiencing an unusually dry winter, with little to no snow on the ground in most parts around town.
Wolf Creek Ski Area has recorded 119 inches of snow so far this season, with the majority of that falling before the new year.
Along with the lack of snowfall, Pagosa Country experienced record high temperatures on Feb. 2, 3 and 4, according to a report from Shawn Prochazka with Pagosa Weather.
The high on Feb. 2 was recorded at 55 degrees, breaking the previous record of 53 degrees set in 1935. On Feb. 3, the high was recorded at 57 degrees, breaking the previous record of 54 degrees set in 1991. The high temperature on Feb. 4 was recorded at 55 degrees, breaking the previous record of 54 degrees set in 1941.
In an email to The SUN, Prochazka notes that climatology data for the Pagosa area is “incomplete and in some cases, not reliable,” explaining that data is pulled from the Western Region Climate Center and the Colorado Climate Center, as well as a database known as the Southwest Climate and Environmental Information Collaborative.
Prochazka also mentions that the data isn’t reliable enough to answer questions such as, “Is this our warmest winter?”
Prochazka’s January weather summary, which he notes was compiled with incomplete data, indicates that the Pagosa area received just 18 percent of its average precipitation for the month.
Additionally, it notes that the ski area received just 20 percent of its average January snowfall.
Weather forecast
Warm and windy weather is expected to continue this weekend with a slight chance of precipitation in town and on Wolf Creek Pass on Saturday, Feb. 8, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Today, Feb. 6, in Pagosa Springs the forecast is sunny skies high and a high of 56 degrees with wind gusts as high as 20 mph. The low is forecast to be 20 degrees with a southwest wind of 5 mph in the evening.
For Wolf Creek Pass, the forecast is mostly sunny with a high of 31 degrees and breezy with wind gusts as high as 35 mph. The low is forecast to be 21 degrees.
For Friday, Feb. 7, the high is forecast to be 54 degrees with sunny skies and 10 to 15 mph winds that could gust as high as 30 mph.
For Wolf Creek Pass, the high is forecast to be 32 degrees with sunny skies and breezy with wind gusts as high as 50 mph. The low is forecast to be 25 degrees with a 30 percent chance of snow showers after 11 p.m.
The high for Saturday, Feb. 8, is forecast to be 50 degrees with a 20 percent chance of rain and snow showers before 11 a.m. The low is forecast to be 20 degrees.
For Wolf Creek Pass, the high is forecast to be 28 degrees with a 40 percent chance of snow showers and wind gusts as high as 45 mph. The low is forecast to be 19 degrees with a 20 percent chance of snow showers.
For Sunday, Feb. 9, the high is forecast to be 48 degrees with mostly sunny skies and a low of 16 degrees.
For Wolf Creek Pass, the high is forecast to be 26 degrees with a 20 percent chance of snow showers mainly after 11 a.m. and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. The low is forecast to be 16 degrees with a 20 percent chance of snow showers after 11 p.m.
Fires and drought
conditions
On Feb. 3 the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) responded to “yet another call for a burn that became out of control due to extremely dry conditions and afternoon wind,” according to a Facebook post from the agency.
The post notes that the Los Pinos Fire Protection District responded to the call as well.
The ACSO indicates it was also on-site for a different call on the same day for an illegal unattended burn pile, approximately 15 feet by 15 feet in size.
“Please burn responsibly. We are in extreme conditions and only getting worse. This kind of behavior puts the entire community at risk,” the ACSO post states, adding, “Violations will be strictly enforced.”
Multiple grass fires occurred in December 2024 and January.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of Jan. 28, 100 percent of Archuleta County is in a moderate drought level, with 80 percent of the county in severe drought stage.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the San Juan National Forest listed moderate fire risk in the lower fire danger area.
clayton@pagosasun.com
