Monsoon hits Southwest Colorado

The monsoonal weather pattern has arrived in Southwest Colorado, although the rain typically associated with the wind change has been spotty, according to the National Weather Service.

Heavy rain soaked much of Durango on Monday, but surrounding areas like Bayfield, Dolores and southern La Plata County were left mostly dry.

"We saw somewhat of a shift in the pattern, so it's kind of the onset of the monsoon," said Dave Nadler, a weather forecaster with the Weather Service in Grand Junction. "But it hasn't really been showing any definite signs of significant rain or moisture coming in."

Monday's thunderstorms sparked several small wildfires in the county, said Mark Lauer, fire-management officer for the San Juan Public Lands Center in Durango.

"Everything we've got is relatively small," Lauer said about 5:30 p.m. "The largest fire in the last couple days has been a quarter of an acre."

There are several resources in the area including helicopters, a single-engine air tanker, fire engines and a 20-person hand crew patrolling the lightning-caused fires.

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Nadler said there is a good chance of more storms carrying moisture today for the Durango area.

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Lauer said there will be a slight drying trend through Wednesday with more chances for moisture next weekend.

Durango received 0.35 inch of moisture Monday, said Joe Creech, a volunteer weather observer for the Weather Service.

Reach Staff Writer Shane Benjamin here .