Durango, Colorado – Temperatures are set to drop below freezing by midnight tonight, putting crops, pipes, and early spring growth at risk across southwest Colorado through the Thursday morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 8 a.m. Thursday for the Animas and San Juan River Basins, including Durango, Bayfield, and Pagosa Springs. Lows are expected to fall to around 30°F, cold enough to damage sensitive vegetation and exposed plumbing.
Conditions worsen again late Thursday night into early Friday, when a Freeze Watch signals even colder air moving in. Temperatures could plunge to 23°F in the river basins and as low as 16°F across the Four Corners region, including Cortez, Mancos, and Mesa Verde National Park.
Adding to the impact, a Wind Advisory takes effect at 11 a.m. Thursday through 9 p.m., with southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. These winds could down tree limbs, create isolated power outages, and make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles along U.S. 160 and U.S. 550.
Residents should cover plants, disconnect hoses, and secure outdoor items before sunrise Thursday. Additional advisories remain possible as another hard freeze develops by early Friday morning.
