Date: 12/30/2019

Yikes…..-30 in Crested Butte this morning. Temperatures hit the coldest of the year last night ranging from -30 to -single digits. Today will be sunny which should help to make it feel warmer than the nasty air temperatures suggest. Winds look to remain light which unfortunately will not help displace any of the cold air pooling in valley bottoms. If you are able to get out of valley bottoms today, the high temperatures will feel reasonable, but the lowest terrain will struggle to reach much above 0. Be sure to manage your finger, toes, and noses to prevent cold injury.

Now for the good news…a series of disturbances will begin impacting the area on Wednesday afternoon and produce snowfall through Friday. It still a bit early to get too excited but moisture looks ample coupled with a strong jet stream to support good snow production. Time will tell but it looks like 2020 is going to get rolling with a snowy start.

• Today

  High Temperature: 12 to 16
  Winds/Direction: 3 to 13, NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -3 to -7
  Winds/Direction: 3 to 13, N
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 19 to 23
  Winds/Direction: 4 to 14, WNW
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 12/29/2019

The snow producing system from the past few days has pushed eastward into the Great Plains, which has left the Crested Butte area under a very cold north flow. A tiny bit of residual moisture is leftover and may create a few flurries for the highest terrain to the north and west of Crested Butte but should dissipate by midday. The big story for the next few days will be the very cold temperatures. Daytime highs will struggle to reach double digits and, at many locations, may only reach just above 0. Temperatures will warm each day through Wednesday which is when the next significant storm should arrive. Models already are suggesting that the second half of this week will be snowy so hooray for that.

Temperatures will be cold enough to cause injury today so plan accordingly.

• Today

  High Temperature: 5 to 10
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18, NW
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to trace
  Elkton Snow: 0 to trace
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to trace

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -7 to -12
  Winds/Direction: 6 to 16, NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 13 to 18
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, NW
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 12/28/2019

Cold, northwesterly flow aloft will keep snow showers going the longest in the mountains north and west and Crested Butte today, while the sun may eke out in areas east of town. Northwest winds have increased dramatically overnight above treeline and are blowing in the 30-40mph range at 5am, but should slowly diminish on all but the highest terrain. Look for light snow to taper off toward sunset, with cold and clearing skies overnight. Cold and dry conditions will dominate until middle of next week, when more snow looks likely to ring in the New Year.

• Today

  High Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 2-5″
  Elkton Snow: 2-4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -5 to 0
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/NW
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0-1″
  Elkton Snow: 0-1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 5-10
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 12/27/2019

A digging trough of low pressure, tracking near Las Vegas this morning, will move into the Four Corners area during the day, favoring the San Juan Mountains to our south, but the Crested Butte area should still look to squeak out some accumulations, especially after midnight tonight when the flow swaps from southerly winds to cold, northwest flow. Winds do not look too miserable, even at ridge top with this storm. Once this initial trough passes, the Elk Mountains may exceed forecast snowfall models as we will sit in cold, northwest flow for the next several days with snowfall in the Kebler and Schofield Pass areas potentially landing in the 15-20″ range for total snow accumulations by Saturday evening. Looking ahead, Western Colorado will feel frigid once again this weekend, slowly moderating each day next week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/SW
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 2-4″
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 5-10
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 4-8′
  Elkton Snow: 2-4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2-4″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 10-15
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 3-6″
  Elkton Snow: 2-4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

Date: 12/26/2019

Santa’s storm is moving out with total snow numbers in the 2” to 7” range across our forecast area. On Thursday the upper atmosphere will be mostly dried out, but lower-level moisture looks to linger a bit longer. So if low-level clouds clear out we’ll get some nice windows of sun today. Otherwise, winds look to remain fairly light today and mountain temperatures will climb to the low 20’s.

A closed low is coming onshore over Southern California. This low will track south of Colorado tonight, and eventually get absorbed into a deep low-pressure trough on Friday. Southern Colorado will again get the best snow out of this one. Though, this morning, models are showing some good moisture pushing north and into our area on Friday too. Unfortunately, we don’t look to get mush storm energy and the wind direction looks to be due south. So, we’ll get some snow for our area too, but nothing impressive. The wind direction flips a 180 late on Friday and will become north. Maybe during this time, we’ll eek out a couple bonus inches of snow in the western forecast area with the more favorable wind direction.

• Today

  High Temperature: 21 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 6 to 10
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, SSE
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 12/25/2019

Whoever asked Santa for something other than snow is on my naughty list. He has been throwing out the flakes down in southern Colorado, while here in Crested Butte we’re just getting the leftovers falling off his reindeer’s heinie. We still have some snow in the forecast today, so come on folks, you had better tell Santa what you really want!

The lower atmosphere holds onto available moisture today and into tomorrow morning. Southwest winds should help orographic snowfall keep going in the Ruby Range and more generally the mountains just west of Crested Butte. While near and East of Crested Butte the snow accumulation will be far less.

The next potential snow maker is a closed low pressure that currently looks to wobble south of Colorado on Friday and Saturday. That path wouldn’t provide any significant impact to our area, but there is still a little uncertainty of the exact path of this Closed Low.

• Today

  High Temperature: 23 to 27
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 4 to 6
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 5
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 4 to 8
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 21 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 3 to 13, SSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Date: 12/24/2019

The Christmas storm is now at our doorstep. A trough has made it’s way inland across California and will send moisture and precipitation to the Crested Butte area today and Wednesday. Snow is already falling on Irwin and CBMR cams this morning. Expect snowfall to remain light and showery today with minimal accumulations. The strongest period of snowfall will happen tonight after sunset and continue into Wednesday morning; anticipate most of the accumulating snowfall to pile up during this period but light snow should continue through sunset on Christmas. Southwesterly winds during this period look reasonable yet strong enough to drift the new snow at ridgetops onto leeward terrain.
The closed low-pressure system mentioned the past few days should reach the Four Corners areas on Friday, but the track and impact of this system are a bit uncertain. Systems like this are generally not big producers for the Crested Butte area, but at least the pattern will remain active into the weekend and offer additional opportunities for snowfall.

• Today

  High Temperature: 28 to 32
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, SW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 15 to 19
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SSW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 4 to 7
  Elkton Snow: 4 to 7
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 6

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 23 to 27
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18, WSW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

Date: 12/23/2019

Clouds and mild air will continue to push into the area today in front of a trough centered off the coast of California. This next system will slowly slide eastward towards Colorado today and tomorrow. Cloud cover should thicken and temperatures will likely rise by a few degrees compared to yesterday.
The next system is expected to arrive on Tuesday evening putting Crested Butte under southwest flow. The San Juans, Grand Mesa, and West Elks look to do best with this storm, but Crested Butte will get in on the action as well, but will limited snowfall totals. The best chance of accumulating snowfall will be late Tuesday evening through Christmas morning and taper off after that. Snow totals are not looking impressive but should give our area a little refresh. Look for more detailed snowfall numbers tomorrow.
A closed low-pressure is scheduled to arrive sometime around Thursday but the exact track and timing of this weather producer remain a bit uncertain. The good news is that the pattern looks to remain through the end of the week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 33 to 37
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, S
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 3 to 13, S
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 27 to 31
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, S
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Date: 12/22/2019

That pesky ridge of high pressure will slowly ooze its way to the east today as we will find ourselves on the western side of the ridge axis. This will mean some high-level clouds will spill into the area today with warmer air as well. The clouds and warmer air will help to erode the nasty, frigid inverted temperatures we have been experiencing for the past few days. Temperatures will remain cold, near or below 0, this morning for valley bottoms, but will continue to be downright pleasant at middle and upper elevations. Expect Sunday and Monday to produce similar weather with a change coming late on Monday into Tuesday.
The next opportunity for the area to pick up accumulating snowfall looks to be later in the day on Tuesday and carry into Christmas on Wednesday. A more active pattern will set up for the rest of the week, but models are not pointing towards impressive precipitation totals. The bottom line will be two more days of insignificant weather with warming temperatures and a chance at several modest storms for the rest of the week. Waking up to a power day on Christmas sure would be a great present.

• Today

  High Temperature: 30 to 34
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 21 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 3 to 13, SSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 32 to 36
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, S
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 12/21/2019

Sub-zero temperatures might slow your motivation this morning, but push through and get out above the stubborn valley inversions to above-average temperatures at higher elevations today. This week’s long-lived ridge of high pressure will slowly track overhead today, with scattered clouds later in the day. Winds remain calm, and temperatures climbing into the mid-30s above the valley floor. Looking into next week, the ridge gets pushed out and more snow looks possible, however, quite a bit of uncertainty with this storm track at the moment. Rudolph will need his red nose potentially for Christmas.

• Today

  High Temperature: 32-37
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20-25
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 35-40
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0