This image from my morning update still looks the same this afternoon…Coyote Loop Trail.

5-21-21: 3pm update:

A training of showers has really added up today with several locations getting close to the one inch mark in the Pagosa Springs area!

As of 3pm. here are some rainfall totals for today…

Rain will become more scattered on Saturday under partly cloudy skies. There will be a chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon. A cold front moves through early Sunday morning. Winds will be an issue on Saturday and Sunday with gusts approaching or exceeding 40mph on Saturday and 30mph on Sunday.

My forecast…

The rest of the day…Mostly cloud with highs remaining in the upper 40’s to low 50’s. There will continue to be passing light showers and a possible thunderstorm thrown in for fun!

Tonight through Sunday: Saturday and Sunday will be partly cloudy with a chance for showers and thunderstorms on Saturday, then much more scattered on Sunday. Winds may gust to over 40mph on Saturday and 30mph on Sunday. I think an additional 0.25-0.50 of rainfall is possible before our rain window closes on Sunday. There could be some accumulating snow tonight at Wolf Creek Pass, but most snow will stay above 11,000 feet. There continues to be a Winter Weather Advisory for our nearby mountains. Highs on Saturday should reach the 60’s. A cool front moves through on Sunday so we could see our lows dip back to the upper 20’s by Monday morning but highs will climb back into the 70’s next week.

-Mark Langford

Now that I have Starlink, I’m broadcasting my Pagosa Peak Cam (myearthcam.com) during the day. It’s pretty fun to view when storms are in our area.

Pagosa Springs historical data

Winter Weather Advisory Issued…

We now have a Winter Weather Advisory for our nearby mountains. I think Wolf Creek Pass will be OK during the day but after sunset it could start accumulating if the precipitation continues. Red Mountain Pass is not fairing as well if you are heading that direction. Winter Weather Advisory issued May 21 at 10:21AM MDT until May 22 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO* WHAT…Wet snow expected above 10000 feet. Total snowaccumulations of 4 to 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40mph.
* WHERE…Southwest San Juan Mountains.
* WHEN…Until midnight MDT tonight.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. A detailed map ofthe snowfall can be found at: www.weather.gov/gjt/winter.InstructionsSlow down and use caution while traveling.

Gotta Love that SW flow!

A rainy day along the Coyote Loop trail this morning.

5-21-21: 8am quick update…

Thanks to an mid level low parked over central California we are “in the flow”! Rich Pacific moisture is moving into our area and will be doing so through tomorrow.

As of 8am most of us have recorded at least a tenth of an inch of rain in our area. Almost a quarter of an inch has fallen at our home about a mile north of Hatcher Lake so far. To our west in Durango, there are some totals approaching an inch…just what this area really needs in the middle of a terrible drought. This harder rain will be moving our way during the day.

Some light snow is currently falling at Wolf Creek Pass but I’m not expecting much accumulation at that elevation. Above the timber line could see some decent snow totals, but I don’t think many of us will be hiking to the tops of our nearby mountains today! If so, good luck!

No change in my forecast from yesterday’s post. Look for this to continue all day with some thunderstorms added to the mix in the afternoon. Rain continues through early am Sunday but will become more scattered on Saturday. I’ll have another post this afternoon.