weather

Dry and mostly sunny weather continues through midweek with above-normal temperatures, before valley rain and light mountain snow arrive Thursday and Friday. Snow levels will remain high, and warmer, drier conditions return by the weekend.

Alcohol can create a false sense of warmth in cold weather, increasing heat loss and the risk of hypothermia. Safety experts share tips for staying safe outdoors this winter.

Russ Vought, President Donald Trump’s budget chief, called NCAR “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country”

Rain in November and snow this month have improved the precipitation situation in Montezuma County. And Montezuma County Commissioner Jim Candelaria has been named as the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the nonprofit group Colorado Counties, Inc.

A look at early December snowfall across the Four Corners: Cortez picked up just under an inch, with similar totals in Dove Creek, Mancos, and Dolores, while Durango saw around two inches and Bluff only a trace. Regional snowpack sits at about 70% of normal so far, with more snow still falling. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reports moderate danger above the tree line, and today’s storm is expected to change conditions quickly — making it a good day to avoid the high country.

Snow tapers off today with slick mountain roads and colder temps. More mountain snow arrives Tuesday through Thursday, with a cool, unsettled pattern into the weekend.

Warmer temperatures in November meant that less snowpack accumulated. But storms did increase soil moisture in the Upper Colorado River Basin, making future precipitation more likely to run off slopesides and boost rivers and streams.

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.

This week’s Water Wednesday Outdoor Report looks at early-season snowpack levels across the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, and San Juan basins, recent precipitation totals around the region, and how upcoming moisture may influence drought conditions.

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