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A warm and windy weekend ahead for Steamboat

Summer-like conditions should persist into next week

Zach Fridell
Bud, a dog that wandered away from its owners Friday, chases tennis balls from outside the fence of the Howelsen Hill tennis courts. The courts should be busy this weekend as temperatures hover around 70 degrees.
Matt Stensland

— It’ll be a change of pace most Routt County residents can approve of. The weekend weather forecast calls for sunny and warm conditions, though high winds and a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms could put outdoor activities in check.

The National Weather Ser­vice’s Grand Junction office predicts a high of 68 degrees today and Sunday. There’s a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms each day.

National Weather Service hydrologist Bryon Lawrence said much of Western Colorado, including western Routt County, have high wind advisories in effect. Steamboat is not under the advisory, but gusty winds still are expected.



Today’s wind is predicted to start at about 20 mph and increase to 25 or 30 mph in the afternoon, with gusts of 50 mph possible. That trend will continue Sunday.

High water also could be a concern this weekend, Lawrence said.



“We are seeing some higher flows on the rivers through Routt County and also into Moffat County,” he said.

No river is expected to go over its banks this weekend, Lawrence said, but high water — especially on the Elk River — could make the banks unstable.

Overnight temperatures early next week could dip to near freezing, Lawrence said. Daytime highs will reach to 58 on Monday, 66 on Tuesday and the low to mid-70s Wednesday through Friday, according to early forecasts.

Trails update

Despite the dry conditions of the past couple of days, all hiking and biking trails on the front side of Emerald Mountain remain closed.

Gretchen Sehler, Routt County Riders trail coordinator, said there is plenty of good skiing available across the area, but the biking and hiking trails are simply too muddy to use.

The same trails that were open earlier in the week — Mad Creek, Hot Springs and portions of Spring Creek — are still the best options, she said. She also reminded hikers and bikers to turn around once a trail gets muddy.

Going through or around it causes damage to the trail systems.


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