\u201cI\u2019ve been here almost 20 years now, so it\u2019s not a big surprise to me,\u201d said Manuel Skow, owner of Kendall Mountain Cafe in Silverton. \u201cI think fall\u2019s started now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The National Weather Service storm warning, issued Monday, forecast heavy snow at elevations above 9,000 feet. Some areas were expected to get 8 to 12 inches of snow and winds up to 30 mph. The warning lifts at noon Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cTravel could be difficult. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,\u201d the warning said.<\/p>\n
The Weather Service expects 1 inch of snowfall in Silverton, but the area could see as many as 8 inches. That\u2019s the highest predicted precipitation out of 20 cities in Western Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt snowed this morning, but it\u2019s all melted now. It\u2019s still nasty and cool,\u201d Skow said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt snowed a little bit, but not enough to stick,\u201d said Lois Jenkins, owner of Shady Lady in Silverton, who has lived in the area for 30 years. \u201cIt\u2019s different. A little too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
At lower elevations, cities such as Pagosa Springs, Durango and Cortez have a slight chance of snow or could see a dusting, according to the Weather Service.<\/p>\n
This comes after Labor Day weekend when Durango and Silverton both saw high temperatures well above the 30-year average for the same dates, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.<\/p>\n
In other areas of Colorado, the scene is different. The Cameron Peak Fire area in Larimer County received up to 14 inches of snow, dampening the wildfire\u2019s growth, according to The Denver Post<\/em>. The Larimer County fire, still smoldering under the snow, remained at more than 100,000 acres and was 4% contained Wednesday.<\/p>\n Chaffee County had some power outages after trees and branches fell on electricity lines, according to a Twitter post by Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.<\/p>\n Purgatory Resort and the surrounding mountains saw the first notable dusting of snow, said a news release from the resort.<\/p>\n \u201cSnow in the high country was a welcome sight, with a scheduled opening date of Nov. 21 coming up on the horizon,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n In Silverton, Skow said the chilly weather didn\u2019t stop customers from visiting the cafe.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s way busier than I expected. It\u2019s been really solid the whole day. We have half the tables, so busy isn\u2019t busy-busy,\u201d Skow said.<\/p>\n