Arleen with the amateur meteorologists of the San Juan Outdoor Club
HAPPY NEW YEAR from the PAGOSA WEATHER TEAM to EACH of OUR FOLLOWERS!
This newsletter has big Thank You Waves to Individual Donors & Our Sponsors; News on Community Outreach; Calendar of events, CoCoRaHS and Contest Updates…
Personal Donations
As the year ended, so many of our wonderful followers made generous donations in December! Special waves of thanks: Sherman Wyman, Nancy Dennis, Lori Cruser, Ernest Otoole, Karen LeCour, Ken Daniels, Stephen Trammel, Doug’s View Photography, Mary Ann Durham, James Baxter, R H Potenz, and Beck & Bill Todd.
What your generous donation goes towards…
Your donations help us take care of the website manager, Fluid Elements, the website, weather subscriptions, and other business expenses. Most importantly your donations ensure that we will be able to provide this free service for everyone for years to come. Remember, each donor will receive a Pagosa Weather Snow Depth Measurer (yardstick).
Follow this link to make a donations: How to Donate. You can donate by PayPal, credit card through Square, or by check. Thank you so much for your generosity!
You can now now make monthly or annual donations through PayPal. Just follow this link: How to Donate
You can pick up a Pagosa Weather Snow Depth Measurer (yardstick) at San Juan Mercantile.
San Juan Mercantile is a fun store with Antiques, Collectibles, Jewelry, Knives, Candles, Housewares, Fine Linens, Local Honey, Souvenirs, and Locally made items. It is at 524 San Juan Street, next to the Barber Shop, across the street from Plaza Liquor. Thank you to Cindy and her team for being our store front!
Mark, Shawn and I have been truly touched by the support our followers have shown for us!
Scroll down to see NEWS on Presentations, Calendar of Events, CoCoRaHS and Contest Updates.
Sponsors
We LOVE our Sponsors! They just amaze us with their support!
Dr. Leo Milner was our first sponsor. In fact, he contacted us before there was even a sponsor program! This month Dr. Milner signed up to support us for another 6 months as a Snowball sponsor. Thank you, Leo, for your continued support.
Click on the sponsor’s logo to follow to their website.
Blizzard Level Sponsor
Snowman Level Sponsors
Snowball Level Sponsors
Storm Sponsor
Community Outreach
Visit to Pagosa Peak Open School Kindergarten
Ms. Saunders at the PPOS will be one of those teachers that will be remembered by many of her students as their favorite teacher ever. The students study weather and learn a weather song. This is our second year visiting these little scientists and we had looked forward to it.
We made a cloud in a bottle, learned how pressure changes based on temperature in a jar, learned about wind with bubbles, and lightning with balloons. We distributed cloud frames but it was a beautiful blue bird day without any clouds.
If any teachers would like us to visit your class, send an email to Arleen at pagosaweather@gmail.com
Winter Outlook Talk to the San Juan Outdoor Club
Arleen gave a presentation to the San Juan Outdoor Club on our current winter and tried to answer the question as to where our snow is hiding. The Outdoor Club is always an inquisitive audience and ask great questions.
The winter has been quiet here but locations like Anchorage, Alaska have seen record snowfall. This is evidence of the strong El Nino in play. Finally, the polar front jet is migrating south and Pagosa Country should start seeing some of the long over due snow in January.
San Juan National Forest
Shawn and Arleen met with the San Juan National Forest Service Fuels Crew Captains from Pagosa and the Columbine ranger districts. Arleen will be providing fire weather training for the new fire crews in the spring for the both the Pagosa and Columbine districts. Shawn has been collaborating with the Columbine Fuels Crew Captain, Rizz, on the weather forecasting process. Rizz is getting very good and might be ready to join Pagosa Weather some day.
Pagosa Weather Calendar
- Archuleta County Search & Rescue: Arleen & Shawn will meet with Brad Myers to discuss future collaborations.
- January 16th, Tuesday, 5:30PM – All Things Weather, Snow, Avalanche at Ski & Bow Rack, our Blizzard Sponsor. Shawn and Arleen with Matt Huber from CAIC will give a joint presentation that will be a follow up from the last event, getting more into weather and backcountry avalanche awareness. Plus there will be complementary beer from Riff Raff and giveaways from Ski & Bow Rack.
- January 18th: Annual Pagosa Weather Board Meeting
- January 19th-21st: Winter Fest. Pagosa Weather will brief balloonists for the early morning ascensions.
- May 23, 2024, Thursday, 6pm: Monsoon ’24 Outlook, Ruby Sisson Library.
Send an email to pagosaweather@gmail.com if your organization would like to hear a weather presentation.
CoCoRaHS Newsletter Updates
Pagosa Weather is the Archuleta County “CoCoRaHS Coordinator” and “Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador”.
We welcome two new CoCoRaHS weather observers this month! Welcome to Sharon Dickson who will be reporting from a remote area south on Highway 84. Welcome also to Leah Baxter who will be reporting from the Meadows area.
Weather Data Lovers, CoCoRaHS has recently released CoCoRaHS Data Explorer, or “DEx” for short. This tool provides countless new ways to visualize and analyze data. Note: it is highly recommended to use larger screens when viewing the DEx.
Click here to go to the DEx Station Search page for data access to any station in the database. (open to the public)
HELP! Do you or do you have a friend that lives in one of the five areas highlighted below?
Archuleta County is well represented but we still have big data gaps. We really need a volunteer in Arboles, Dulce, west on Highway 160, Pagosa Junction, and the upper Blanco. Sign up by filling out this web page: https://www.cocorahs.org/application.aspx. Or send us a note and we can send you more detailed information.
Perhaps, our January Newsletter will show fewer red circles!
The red circles are areas we could use a CoCoRaHS observer. Let us know if you can give us 5 to 10 minutes every morning to measure precip and snow. CoCoRaHS provides all the training you need.
Shawn will have the December summary with Arleen’s January outlook out tomorrow or on Wednesday.
Contest Newsletter Updates
Special Thanks to our sponsor businesses that have stepped forward to sponsor our weather contests. They are a lot of fun!
Future Weather Contests
| 1st Spring Thunderstorm | Feb 1 2024 | TBD |
| 1st 75 degrees of 2024 | Mar 1, 2024 | Pagosa Mountain Sports |
| 2024 Monsoon Rainfall | May 15, 2024 | The Springs Resort |
Active Contest! When will we have TWO feet of SNOW in O’Neal Park? (closed to new guesses) As of today, January 1st, 2024, there is 9″ on the official snow measuring pole. Will we hit 24″ with all the snow coming in over the next few weeks?
Forecast the date and time we measure 24” of snow depth on the ground. The person with the closest guess will get a $100 gift certificate to Alley House, one of our Snowman sponsors! The verification spot is located 7 miles north of Pagosa in O’Neal Park. Today, December 3rd, 2023, we have 9″ in the spot. 15″ to go!
Huge “Thanks” to Joni, Martin, Corey, Dana, Jim, and the entire team at Alley House for their support and sponsoring this contest! In addition, the Alley House is one of our Snowman sponsors.
This contest is closed to an new guesses.
Kilina Martinez Garcia: January 3th 6:03,am
Jillian Cram says: January 3rd at 9:15 a.m.
Janice Davis says: January 3, 2024. at 2:33 PM.
Janet Pentis: January 3, 2024 – 9:50 pm
Ellen Clark Schmidt: January 4, 5am
Susan Dussell says: January 5 at 7 am.
Kim Collins says: January 5 at 11:22 am
Barbara Remien says: January 5, 2024 at 1pm
Shane Prince says: January 6th 3pm
Emily Green-Martinez: January 7th, 6:11am
Lisa Vail says: January 7, 2024 at 7:00am
Cathy Abbott says: January 8th at 8 a.m.
Bob Ashmore says: January 9, 4:40pm
Gina Doherty says: January 10,2024 @ 2:15 am
Connie Mentemeier says: January 10th at 6 am, 2024
Stacey says: January 10th @ 10am
Mauri Bishop: January 11 – 8:00am
Sue Wintersteen says: January 11 at 9am
Jane Davison says: January 14th at 7 AM
Kimberly Jean White: January 14 at 4:44pm
Brisa Arreola Duarte: January 15 at 7:00 am
Ed H says: Jan 15th 9:43AM
Jeff Schwander says: January 16 at 8am
Janet Johnson says: January 17, 2024 at 2pm
Brady Turner says: January 19th at 5:00 PM
Joan Scott says: January 20th, 6am
Juan Molina: January 20th at 9:30am
Susan W Zoerb: January 22, 7:00 am
Jenny Yurechko says: January 22nd at 1:15pm.
Gina says: January 22nd at 2:22 pm
David Hansen says: Jan 22nd 4pm
Matt Crowe: Jan 24 at 11:00am
Nancy Crouse: January 24th @ 4:30 pm
Judd Campbell says: January 25 at 8am
Kelly Coleman says: January 29th, 6:00 a.m.
Tabitha Hart: Feb 2, 7am
Karen Vedera says: February 5th at 11 am
Eric Fisk: Feb. 7th @ 6:00 am
Suzanne Coe: February 10 7 am
Denise Fisk says: Feb 13th @ 4:00 pm
Gail Freeman: February 14, 2024 @ 3 PM
Gretchen Dickkut: February 18th @ 12:50am
Debbie Moore: February 28 at 12:00 pm
Active Contest:
Forecast the Total Seasonal Snowfall for Wolf Creek Ski Area on their final day of operation. (closed to new guesses)
The person with the closest guess will win a $50 gift certificate for SKI & BOW RACK!!! In addition, Ski & Bow Rack has offered HATS for the next closest guesses!
Huge thanks to Brittany & Robert and the rest of the team at Ski & Bow Rack for the support of our weather contests and for being our Blizzard level sponsor!
As of today, January 1st, 2024, Wolf Creek had measured 80” so far this winter. The ski resort average is 360”. Their final day of normal operation is expected to be in early April 2024.
Vicki Jones 320”
Danette Vigil 327”
Donna Simonne 328”
Lady Amber Rhea Vasquez-Schrage 333”
Brad Kinser 333
Lorren Dawes 336”
Amy Rivera 340
Dave Stimpson 345 inches
Amy Shepherd 345
Bill Anderson 345″
Jenny Lynn Heckmann · 346”
Connie McKeithen Prunty 350″
Dab Macke: 355
Marie Humenczuk 356”
Amy Wilk 358
Les Schwandt 359
Danielle Choate 361″
Troy Rettig says: 365”
Susanne Olson 365″
Randy Hays 365″
Patti Spindler says: 365″
Kirk Bliss 368″ Heather
Michelle 369″
Astrid Simund 369″
TomBon May 369
Antonio-Miranda Cabrera 371”
Sally Richmond 372”
Kimberly Hicks Laverty 375
Ed says: 376
Tammie Cypert Apodaca 376”
Musetta Wollenweber 376″
Mary Stokes 377″
Steve Voorhis says: 378”
Ron Bogs 378 inches
MJ Lore 378
Steve Earle 379 inches
Mauri Bishop 381″
Matt Ross 382”
Theresa Cordova-Trujillo 384.5 inches
Amanda Breman 386 inches
Deborah Henderson Stanislaus: 387 inches
Gina Leach 387”
Donna Muir 388”
Kelly H. Coleman 389″
Michelle Juneau says: 390″
Kris Hoff May 391”
Mark Apodaca 391”
Nestor Rivera 391″
Leo Milner 392″
Terri Lynn Grosh 392”
Debbi Plemons says: 393”
Shawndris Coy 393”
Joni Watkins 395”
Michael Barr 396
Jackie Cox says: 396”
Tammy Boen 397”
Tina Edwards says: 398”
Diana Kleckner Aragon 398
Aimee Fredrickson 398
Kari Burkett says: 399”
Jan Powers 399”
Robert Hagberg 399”
Erica Schuyler Hagopian 399″
Sharilyn Knox 399
Holly Baldwin says: 400 inches
Nancy Lynn Carey 400
Barbara Jetley 400
Jerry Williams 400”
Rob Barlow 401
Macee Burrow 401
Jode Fahrion Mckee 402”
Michelle Tressler Kolkau 402″
Simmie E. Rose 402″
Daniel Haskamp 402”
Jana Hoyer says: 403″
Madeline Arnold 403”
Linda Lutomski 404″
Joseph Yoklavich says: 404
Susan W Zoerb 406″
Pat Colby says: 407″
Michelle Carpenter 407
James D Tagliareni Jr. 409”
Barb Ferrell says: 409”
Crystal Dean 410
Cindi Galaty Galabota 411″
Larissa Terrell says: 411
Carol Ann Peterson 411
Sandy Williams 412”
Ben Bailey 413 inches.
Dana Clark 413″
Dee Halley 413”
Belinda Hewitt 413”
Cherese Bergman 413″
Bob Theodore says: 413”
Katelyn Duffy 415
Brittany Cone 417″
Shane Durham 418″
Murphy miller says: 418″
Dustan Mattingly 419
Lucinda Morris Tagliareni 420”
Ben Hicks 420
bob Michael Hughes 420”
Blair Jackson 420
David Wolff says: 420″
Toby Martinez 420″
Phil Slusher 421 inches
Kristin McCollam 421
Rachael Collins 421
Jeshua Thomas 421″
Jerry Jones 422”
Eric Porter 422
Johnna Thompson 422 inches
Floyd Vail 422”
Gina says: 422 inches
Ilene Gauger 423”
Wendy Burton 423”
Missy Lee 424”
Renee Demianew 424”
Kimberly Jean White 424”
Kay Reed 425
Monica Alley 425
Nancy Green 426 inches
Laura Jones says: 427″
Charlie Tyrrell 427″
Judd Campbell 427
Kathleen Wells Steventon 428″
Shaylah Nicole Lucero 428 inches
Allyson Wilkins 428
Ken Daniell 431”
Ellen Clark Schmidt 432”
Ryan Mathis 432”
Joslynn Hatcher 432”
Adrienne Panter 432″
Kelley White Grose 432
Lauren Fredrickson 433”
Hannah Hemenger 433”
Meg Wempe 434″
Dean Lee 435″
Mike Cianciolo says: 438″
Jeff Bentley 438″
Robert George 438
Diane Steve Horton 439”
Annett Hitchell 439″
Roslyn Reese Earle 440
Brad Hall 441
Dena Laterza 441
Sasha King: 442
Katherine Yoklavich says: 444 inches
Chris Edwards 444 inches
Peggy Andrews 444″
Mike Flihan 444 inches
Suzanne Coe says: 445 inches
Nikki Adams Taylor 447”
Luke Skinner 447”
Donna Marsh 447
Jeff Witten says: 448”
Nicole Smith 448 inches
Tasha Kossler 450”
Rick Holter says: 451″
Ängel Ţhrasher Ẅeaver 452 inches
Katie Howell says: 452
Jeremy Brousseau 453 1/2”
Lynn Robinson says : 453”
Adam Hirshberg 455″
Chris Carpenter 456
Eric Kuhn says: 456”
Lisa Dess 457
Gina Boaz 458”
Theresa Dougherty-Suchanek 459″
Sierra Graham 462″
Cheryl Ward-Bowdridge 468”
Amber Demmert 469”
Koebel Gennan 469
Lisa Griffin Oney 470
Greg Williams 472″
Teri Soto Martinez 472
Jared Conway 473”
Tim says: 475”
Justin Treptow 475 inches
Aly Jones 476”
Jana Doucet 477”
Dolores Rode 477
Kermit Herman 478″
Casey PenguinPups: 478”
Tanner Holman 479”
Joni Croce Bussoli 481″
Audrey Bliss 481
Steve Blechschmidt 481
Alisha Wagner 482″
Casey Fisher 483in.
Carla Salter 484”
Julian Martinez 485″
John P: 486”
Anthony Aldwell says: 488”
Eileen Martin 488”
Annie Stone 488
Molly Sprowle 488″
Venita Durrer 489 inches
Al Wylie 489”
Kim Bristow 492”
Amber Roberts 492″
Valerie Lucas 492 ”
Aaron Anderson 495 inches
Kim Martinez 496”
Mackenzie Hageness 496″
Chellie Panzera 498”
Kristie Bixler 499”
Vickie LeBlanc 500 inches
Eric Ziminsky 501”
Cia Leigh Adkisson 501
Denise Woods Santille 502″
Liz Herring-Tibbetts 502″
Carrie Thomas 502 inches
Neil Umali 502”
Suanne Freitag McLellan 502
Kathy Kulyk 505″
Stacey Fitzwater 506”
Mike Stang 507”
TJ Martinez 509
Bonnie J. Newman-Schilf 510”
Courtney Wieters 511″
Jasmin Trueba 512”
Lynn Bauman 512
Belen Quila Rutan 512”
Kenny Rogers says: 512″
Patty Sanner 515″
Nathanael Ward 515
Ana Appenzeller 515
Crystal Earley 520”
Lillian Byrne 521”
Lacy Capre 522”
Mary Tighe 525″
Kathy Morrone Wissing 527”
Jan Harms says: 528″
Karen Welch 528”
Corey Shult 529
Emily Green-Martinez 533
Sandra Meyn Thoma 540”
Jared Payne 559″
Michele Berndt 565
Mike Dingman 575″
Nikki Cyr 584″
Cheto Matthew Chavez 589”
Elijah Penguin Pups: 600”
Jarod Miller 605 inches
Meghan Hutcherson 678
