A blast of arctic air is expected to plunge much of Colorado and other parts of the country into single-digit or even negative temperatures Friday evening. Although Southwest Colorado won’t see the most extreme weather, residents of Cortez, Durango, Bayfield and nearby communities should prepare for cold.
The core of the cold air mass is expected to remain in the Dakotas and southern Canada, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Kris Sanders.
“Portions of Southwest Colorado are just getting clipped by this air mass, as opposed to fully taking over all the state,” Sanders said.
In low-lying communities along U.S. Highway 160, morning temperatures are expected to hover around 0 degrees.
“If we have clear skies, that’ll be the big deciding factor,” Sanders said.
Durango’s overnight emergency warming center, which is a low-barrier place for people to spend the night when temperatures dip below 15 degrees, will be open through Tuesday, organizers confirmed.
The center closed briefly last week after someone vandalized the property and broke in, however, it reopened Thursday.
Gusty winds pushing 45 mph will accentuate colder temperatures, Sanders added.
Snowfall in the San Juan Mountains will be limited, especially south of Red Mountain Pass, which is expected to collect no more than about 6 inches over the weekend.
The blast of arctic air is expected to move out of Colorado by midweek, Sanders said.
rschafir@durangoherald.com