Montrose San Juan Mtn area weather?? (Delta: relocating, air pollution, winters)

[golden22]

What are normal winter conditions like in this region? We are possibly relocating to Montrose from the midwest and are curious what we may be in for . Curious about snowfall, temps etc.

Thanks in advance for any info!

[jazzlover]

Montrose is generally snow-free most of the winter--bare ground. Temps usually in the 30's to high 40's in the day--10-20 at night. The area from Delta to Montrose is subject to air inversions in winter and can have significant air pollution in valley areas, especially if there is snow on the ground and cold air settles into the valley. Most of the last few winters have been both drier and warmer than normal. The 90 day forecast is indicating that this year may be a repeat. I've been in the area on an assignment this fall, and it has been one of the warmest and driest that I can remember. There is a growing consensus that much of the region of southern Colorado and the southwest US is in the beginning years of a long-term drought period.

The San Juan mountains south of Montrose--in what used to be "normal" years--could receive very substantial snowfall. Much of that snowfall--contrary to the "urban legends"--usually comes in late winter and early spring (February-April). Quite often there is not a lot of snow in the San Juans until after Christmas or New Year's. Temperatures in the San Juans are often not as cold as some of the other Colorado mountain areas, but they can be quite cold. Again, the last several winters have generally been warmer than normal.

I have posted this before--but I caution that prospective residents take with a grain of salt the comments made by some posting on the forum who have not lived in Montrose or other areas of Colorado for very long. The weather in the last few years has not been "normal"--at least by historical standards. Whether what we are seeing now is the "new normal" because of climate change or not, I don't think anyone really knows. But it sure isn't typical for the kind of weather the region used to have. I and/or my family personally have over 35 years of history in that area--the climate now is definitely different from what it used to be.