Winter returned to Pagosa Country this week, with more than a foot of snow falling on Wolf Creek Pass, and areas near Pagosa Springs reporting anywhere from 1 to more than 5 inches of snow by midday Wednesday, according to data entered into the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.
Wolf Creek Si Area reported a total of 23 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Snow showers are expected to continue, with the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting a 60 to 100 percent chance of snow showers from today, Thursday, Feb. 19, through Saturday, Feb. 21.
The high for Wolf Creek Pass today is forecast at 11 degrees with a 60 percent chance of snow showers and new snow accumulation of around 1 inch. The low is forecast at 3 degrees with a chance of snow showers increasing to 80 percent and up to 2 to 4 inches of new snow accumulation overnight.
For Friday, Feb. 20, there is a 100 percent chance of snow showers with a high of 13 degrees and new snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. The low is forecast at minus 2 degrees. Wind gusts as high as 35 mph are also possible.
Snow showers will begin to disappear on Saturday, Feb. 21, with a chance of snow dropping to 20 percent and otherwise sunny skies with a high near 21 degrees, and a 10 mph west wind. The low is forecast at 7 degrees with mostly clear skies.
The high for Sunday, Feb. 22, is forecast at 31 degrees with mostly sunny skies and a west wind of 5 to 10 mph. The low is forecast at 14 degrees with mostly clear skies.
For the Pagosa Springs area, the NWS is forecasting partly sunny skies and a high of 32 degrees for today, Thursday, Feb. 19. Snow showers are likely in the evening, with new snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible overnight and a low of 10 degrees.
Chances of snow showers will increase on Friday, Feb. 20, up to an 80 percent chance and a high of 33 degrees. The low is forecast at minus 2 degrees with a chance of snow showers falling to 20 percent.
For Saturday, Feb. 21, the high is forecast at 39 degrees with sunny skies. The low is forecast at 7 degrees with partly cloudy skies.
Sunny skies are expected again on Sunday, Feb. 22, with a high near 49 degrees. The low is forecast at 15 degrees with partly cloudy skies.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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