San Juan Mountains

Trail reporter Phil says recent rain and mountain snow are changing conditions across Boggy Draw, Cortez, and Rico. Riders and hikers may find limited windows to get outside before more moisture returns Sunday.

Mountain snow and colder temps continue today across the Four Corners, with more chances for rain and snow returning midweek.

Warm, dry weather continues through Thursday before a Pacific storm brings rain, mountain snow, and cooler temps heading into the weekend.

High pressure will keep the Four Corners warm and dry through midweek, with plenty of sunshine and highs running five to ten degrees above normal. Thin clouds may drift through, but conditions remain pleasant until late Thursday, when a Pacific storm system brings a chance of valley rain and light mountain snow — especially in the San Juans. Temperatures are expected to drop five to fifteen degrees below normal heading into the weekend.

Sunny skies and gusty winds are expected across the Four Corners today, while northern Colorado sees light mountain snow and colder air moving in behind a passing front.

Heavy rainfall over a two-day period in the Four Corners region saw severe floods in the Animas and San Juan rivers, causing damages to homes and businesses. Climate researchers are examining historical trends and the impacts of climate change to better understand the massive rain event.

Back-to-back October storms brought record rain and flooding to Southwest Colorado, easing drought but swelling rivers to near-record fall levels.

A Flood Watch remains in effect through late tonight for the southern San Juans and nearby valleys, with several Flood Warnings still posted for rivers around Pagosa Springs. Rainfall totals of one to three inches were recorded over the past 24 hours, and while showers should ease this morning, scattered storms could redevelop by afternoon, bringing brief heavy rain, small hail, and gusty winds. Another system arrives Wednesday with additional showers, followed by a cold front Thursday that will cool temperatures by about ten degrees and drop snow levels to around 7,000 feet.

Hundreds of homes were evacuated over the weekend as flooding swept through parts of southwestern Colorado. The hardest-hit areas were Pagosa Springs and Vallecito, where creeks swelled to more than twice their normal spring runoff levels, damaging roads, bridges, and homes. Although evacuation orders have been lifted, more rain from Tropical Storm Raymond is on the way, and flood watches remain in effect across the San Juan Mountains and southern valleys.

Aspens across the San Juans are starting to turn, with peak fall color expected from late September into early October. Early changes are showing near Silverton, Red Mountain Pass, and Telluride, while Dolores, Rico, and La Plata Canyon remain mostly green.