In the coming months, cold temperatures and snow will give way to longer days and warmer weather. This year’s El Niño will be over allowing summer to flourish.  

 

El Niño is a warming of water in the southern pacific ocean that brings changes to a weather system that is operating normally, Jonathan Harvey, assistant professor of geosciences at Fort Lewis College, said.

 

Expectations

 

More precipitation was expected this year than in previous winter seasons due to El Niño.

 

Statistically, the Durango area was set to have a normal snow pack throughout the winter season that was average, he said.

 

“Which is kind of a lot compared to the last few years which had been well below average,” he said.

 

In a sense, Durango did experience more snow being that more snow fell than in previous years.

 

Durango has been at average or above average so far throughout the season.

 

A Break

 

In the next 10 days, the temperature will rise to the 50s making it the warmest it has been this year, Harvey Said.

 

It is atypical for El Niño because there is usually a set of storms to keep the snowpack rising so it is giving a small break in the cycle, he said.

 

During this break people can expect a substantial amount of snow melt.

 

“What we’re about have is the biggest melt off that we’ve had all season,” he said

 

After the 10 day period, around Feb. 18th, is when some precipitation can be expected.

 

On Campus

 

As far as preparation for El Nino, physical plant did not prepare any differently, Nate Atwood, ground and nursery two employee for the physical plant at FLC, said.

 

Aside from some early mornings to clear snow, ice around campus was the main problem around the south side of Escalante and north side of most buildings, Atwood said.

 

This included making sure sidewalks, handicap ramps and access areas were free of ice along and had accessibility to roads and parking lots, he said.

 

Another concern was the overhanging snow and ice from the rooftops, he said The west side of the Student Union Building and other areas where there is building access are the most problematic.

 

With the warmer temperatures during the day and freezing at night, snow and ice melt are a problem in areas where the sidewalk is lower than the turf area, so they try to widen those areas more, he said.

 

Contact physical plant services for any issues regarding snow and ice on campus.