Date: 01/09/2020

The shallow trough axis, which gave us the last little dusting of snow, is now headed east. A partly cloudy sky is overhead early this morning as we await the next push of moisture. A much larger low-pressure trough is next in line and moving across the mountain west. We’ll see moisture levels increasing today with thickening clouds. A couple inches of snow are in the forecast for this afternoon and tonight. Unfortunately, the storm energy with this low pressure will be far to our south. So we have the moisture, but we don’t have much of the other weather factors to turn it into good snow accumulations. Winds will also drop during this period.

On Friday we’ll see dryer weather under northerly flow. Winds will also take an increase for a brief period on Friday. That dry weather will last into Saturday morning. Thankfully the storms keep coming and the next is in line for Saturday. Snow looks to get going Saturday mid-day or afternoon and continue overnight. Saturday’s storm looks to have the best snow accumulations for this period.

• Today

  High Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: Trace to 2

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 4 to 8
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 16 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, NW
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Date: 01/08/2020

Well, it would be easy to turn the weather forecast into a wish cast this morning. We have a more active weather pattern, but we don’t have enough factors lining up to produce significant snow. Wednesday morning clouds are pushing across the UT/CO border on southwest flow. So we should see increasing clouds this morning and partly cloudy sky in the afternoon. A passing shortwave trough and colder air moving in this evening should produce a few flakes by Thursday morning. A larger low-pressure trough brings increased moisture for Thursday into Friday and a decreasing temperature trend. This looks like a trace to 3 inches of snow by Friday morning. That’s up to 76.3mm if you want a number that sounds deeper. An active weather pattern remains as we head into the weekend and next week. So we’ll continue to have the door open for storms later on the weekend and next week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 28 to 32
  Winds/Direction: 13 to 23 G30, SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 4 to 8
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: trace to 1
  Elkton Snow: Trace to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: Trace to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: Trace to 2
  Elkton Snow: Trace to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: Trace to 2

Date: 01/07/2020

A weak ridge will build over Colorado today bringing inversions to valley bottoms and mostly clear skies. Temperatures in valleys will struggle a bit with the inversion but temps at mountain locations are looking very pleasant near 30 degrees. On Wednesday afternoon a weak trough will pass by the northern part of Colorado, unfortunately, this system will not produce much if any accumulating snowfall for the Crested Butte area. Then on Thursday evening into Friday, a stronger, wetter system will impact much of Colorado. It is too early to start throwing snowfall numbers around, but at the very least it looks like we will get a refresh on snow surfaces out of this system.

• Today

  High Temperature: 27 to 31
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 6 to 10
  Winds/Direction: 4 to 14, SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 27 to 32
  Winds/Direction: 13 to 23, SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/06/2020

A weak system is currently nipping at the Crested Butte area but will only produce a few flakes without the prospect of any substantial accumulation. Clouds and flurries will be on the decrease as the day passes with tomorrow expected to be a clear and warmer day. Winds will continue to be a bit gusty at upper elevations from the WNW. After a pleasant, sunnier day Tuesday, cloud cover will begin to increase on Wednesday before an approaching system that is expected to impact the area Wednesday evening and linger through Friday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, WNW
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to trace

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 4 to 8
  Winds/Direction: 6 to 16, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 26 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/05/2020

Today will bring an increase in cloud cover as the day progresses as a quick, weak system moves through the area tonight and tomorrow. This system is not anticipated to produce much snowfall tonight and tomorrow maybe just a couple of inches at best. The good news is that the winds have slowly tapered off from the blistering speeds of the past two days and will shift more southwesterly today ahead of the next system. Even though winds have relaxed, expect them to continue to be elevated at upper elevations.

Tuesday is expected to be a dry and sunny day before a significant trough impacts the western United States during the second half of the week. Currently, this snowmaker is scheduled to arrive late on Wednesday and give the opportunity for accumulating snowfall through about Friday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 28 to 32
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 7 to 11
  Winds/Direction: 14 to 24, WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 16 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 12 to 22, NW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Date: 01/04/2020

A generally quiet day across our forecast area with high pressure in control for one more day. Those persistent cold, northwest winds are still ticking in the 30mph range in the alpine this morning, but are on a downward trend since yesterday afternoon. Aside from sub-zero valley inversions, temperatures are mild at higher elevations, starting the day off in the low 20s. Look for mostly sunny skies today, with northwest winds increasing slightly midday as tomorrow evening’s quick-moving disturbance approaches. Tomorrow, the northern mountains will be favored, but the high elevations of the northern Elk Mountains may see 1-3″ of snow tomorrow evening.

• Today

  High Temperature: 27-33
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WNW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WNW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 25-30
  Winds/Direction: 15-25/NW
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 1-3″ PM
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″ PM
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″ PM

Date: 01/03/2020

A quick-moving ridge of high pressure sliding overhead today from the west is the culprit to the increase of northwesterly winds since sunset yesterday. Although not accompanied by precipitation, this change in airmass is increasing the pressure gradient and bumping the winds. These winds should subside by sunset tonight. Temperatures today will start subzero once again in the valleys, but higher elevations should warm nicely into the mid-teens to low 20s. No precipitation is expected for this weekend but could see some light snow showers bring a modest refresh of surface conditions Sunday night into Monday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 20-30/NW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 25-30
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/02/2020

The low-pressure trough is now sitting over Eastern Colorado this morning. That’s putting us in northwest flow. Upper-level moisture starts fading away throughout the day, while low-level moisture hangs in there until Thursday Night. So generally light orographic snow showers are what we have in the snow forecast for today. That snow will primarily be west and north of Crested Butte. A brief ridge of high pressure builds in on Friday and into Saturday. Saturday is looking like a great day to get out under the sun, but we may see some clouds moving in that afternoon and a flake or two of snow if we are lucky. The next chance of a storm comes early next week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 8 to 12
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20 G35, NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, NW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Date: 01/01/2020

The new year is starting off just right with an incoming winter storm. A strong jet stream is pulling Pacific Moisture into the area on northwest flow. We’ll see snowfall get going for our area around mid-day, which is a few hours earlier than forecasted yesterday. As that snow gets going, strong winds aloft will create some blustery conditions at upper elevations. NW to W orographic will initially kick in and favor the Kebler Pass and Paradise Divide areas. Snowfall rates will pick up across the whole forecast area late this afternoon as a cold front also descends over Colorado. Lite snowfall continues for Thursday. Cold temperatures during this whole period should create some great snow, with low water content. Drier weather moves in Thursday night through Saturday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 22 to 26, WNW
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25 G35, WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 5
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 8 to 12
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 5 to 8
  Elkton Snow: 5 to 8
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 5

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 16 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

Date: 12/31/2019

It’s so cold out there that dogs are sticking to fire hydrants. Be careful out there folks. -20’s down in the valleys, oo fun. The sun will come out, and we’ll have another beautiful day. High clouds will start moving in this afternoon as we get ready for the start of the New Years Storm. We’ll be in NW flow on Wednesday and Thursday as a deep low-pressure trough builds over the western US. The snow looks to ramp up quickly, late on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday morning we could be looking at 6 to 8” West and North of Crested Butte, and 3 to 5 in Crested Butte. Snowfall looks to continue on Thursday, mostly for the orographically favored areas again west and north of CB. Dry weather arrives to start the weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 1 to 5
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, NW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 22 to 26
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, WNW
  Sky Cover:
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4 PM
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4PM
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 2PM