Date: 04/15/2019

We were on the line with where the clouds set up yesterday and got slapped in the face when we fell to the wrong side. Today, moisture is again streaming towards Northern Colorado while models are showing dry air over Central and Southern Colorado. Satellite view current conditions at 5am this morning shows some clouds forming off of other mountain ranges in the upstream flow. Spring weather has been fickle and difficult to nail down lately, but I’m going to hedge my bets that by noon we’ll have mostly clear sky overhead for the rest of the day.

The pressure gradient remains tight overhead and we will again see those strong gusty winds in the alpine. They may die down a bit this morning, but expect them to pick up throughout the day. Those winds will help keep upper elevations feeling cooler, while high temperatures at 11,000ft will climb near 40 degrees.

The flow turns southwest by late this afternoon ahead of the next low-pressure trough. Warmer air will be streaming up overnight and we’ll see little to no freeze in the mountains. Clouds will be on the increase Tuesday as that low pressure moves it. On Tuesday Night and Wednesday that system moves well to our south leaving poor snow accumulations for our area. The next little storm moves in from the north on Thursday and looks to mostly stay to our east. Dry air moves back in for Friday and Saturday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 38 to 42
  Winds/Direction: 12 to 22, G40, West
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 31 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 38 to 42
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Mountain Weather for 11,000ft. Sunday, April 14

Date: 4/14/2019

Convective clouds really kicked off yesterday and produced a couple inches of snow. The sky has cleared overnight with the loss of daytime heating and drier air. For Sunday and Monday, moisture will mainly stay to our north and stream over northern Colorado. We could still see some convective clouds and cells move through, but in general, we’ll see partly cloudy sky on Sunday and continued clearing for Monday. Winds will become a bit gustier this afternoon and continue to stay slightly elevated into Monday. High temperatures each day should also increase 3 to 5 degrees from the previous day.

The next low-pressure trough will be making its way across the western US on Tuesday. By Tuesday night we’ll see a return to winter with snow showers starting up and an associated cold front bringing a drop in temperatures. This next storm doesn’t look too impressive at the moment, but still looks to produce a nice refresh on snow and keep the good spring riding going!

• Today

  High Temperature: 32 to 36
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20 to 24
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 36 to 40
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/13/2019

A large trough is currently hanging out over the Intermountain West. Moisture associated with this trough has the potential to keep partly to mostly cloudy sky in our area for Saturday. As of 5am a thick band of clouds is passing through Western Colorado. We should see upper level clearing behind this band of clouds around sunset, though low valley clouds are showing up and will take longer to dissipate. After any cleaning this morning, daytime heating and convection may turn the available moisture into clouds and take us back to somewhere around partly cloudy for the day. High temperatures today only look to hit around 32 degrees in the mountains, but that strong April Sun will make it feel much warmer.

Dry air moves into the area for Saturday night as a weak ridge builds in for the next few days. This ridge looks to keep most of the available moisture just to our north. It’s looking like some sunny weather for Sunday, but we could be right on the edge of those clouds to our north. High temperatures will increase a few degrees on Sunday. By Monday the flow will have turned southwest and we’ll see those temperatures take another good jump well above freezing in the mountains.

At the moment, a copy of the weather from last week looks to be the same forecast for this upcoming week. After dry weather to start off the week, a low-pressure trough sets up by the midweek. Bringing a return for snow showers and a cold front moving in to drop those temperatures back down.

• Today

  High Temperature: 29 to 33
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 14 to 18
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 31 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
  Sky Cover:
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/12/2019

The area will continue to remain under light NW flow for most of today before a weak system moves to the south of the area tonight. Light snow showers will continue for the first part of the day for upper elevation terrain near the Ruby Range. Accumulations will be minimal today. Winds will settle down from the past two days and blow from the west. Another system is headed for the Four Corners region this afternoon, but is relatively weak and is tracking south of our area. This system will bring some showery precipitation Friday night and Saturday but will provide little accumulating snow. A ridge of high pressure looks to develop Saturday evening and into Sunday bringing back some more spring-like weather on Sunday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 27 to 32
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 11 to 16
  Winds/Direction: 3 to 13, SE
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 32 to 37
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

Date: 04/11/2019

The low-pressure system, from yesterday, produced from 3″ to 10″ of snow as of 5am this morning. The low-pressure center has moved to the east of Colorado, but residual moisture will continue to stream into the area under NW flow. This wind direction will favor locations from Kebler Pass to Schofield Pass with lesser amounts for the interior parts of the range. Up to an additional 2″ to 4″ could fall today for the snow favored areas. Winds will remain out of the NW for the day and will continue to blow hard enough to transport the new snow. Looking towards Friday and the weekend, models are showing another system moving into the area, but it does not look impressive and may only produce showery precipitation into the weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 23 to 28
  Winds/Direction: 12 to 22, NW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 8 to 13
  Winds/Direction: 6 to 16, WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 29 to 34
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

Date: 04/10/2019

Old man winter is making a comeback today. A strong and cold low-pressure system is moving into Colorado this morning. Although temperatures are relatively warm early this morning, they will continue to drop as the system approaches. Light snowfall began around 1 am and will likely ramp up around mid-morning. The possibility of short periods of intense snowfall exists during the day. Along with the snow will be very gusty winds which will drift the new snow in open terrain. Winds will shift from the SW, this morning, to the NW as the system passes over the state. Snowfall will taper off this evening, but NW flow will keep light orographic snowfall going through tonight and into tomorrow. Temperatures will be unseasonably cold on Thursday with high temperatures only reaching the 20’s.

• Today

  High Temperature: 26 to 31
  Winds/Direction: 13 to 23, G40 W
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 4 to 7″
  Elkton Snow: 4 to 7″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 6″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 5 to 10
  Winds/Direction: 12 to 22, NW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3″
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 20 to 25
  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″

Date: 04/09/2019

It’s day three of Mom Natures, Bring Back The Heat Festival. Since the shirtless people didn’t gather on Elk Ave yesterday to reflect the suns heat as requested, Mama has decided to really bring the heat on this final day. Colorado is sitting on the backside of a high-pressure ridge. Warm air is being pulled up into the area on southwest flow and we’ll see those high temps jump another few degrees today. Both valley temps in the area and mountain temps will jump into the 50’s. Winds will be light through most of the day and start to pick up in the afternoon, while the sky will be partly cloudy and increase late in the afternoon. You best get your hot party on today, because it’s all about to change.

An approaching low-pressure system will bring increasing moisture late this afternoon with building clouds. A cold front looks to arrive on Wednesday morning with a big drop in temperatures and the arrival of snow. Winter is coming back baby! Snow showers will continue on Wednesday through Wednesday night with storm totals ranging from 5 to 10 inches by Thursday morning. Lite snow showers may continue on Thursday, as we await the next low presser system or storm #2 to arrive on Friday. Unsettled weather then takes us into the weekend. There will be some breaks in the weather of course but all and all we are looking to a return to winter coming up.

• Today

  High Temperature: 46 to 50
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 24 to 28
  Winds/Direction: 12 to 22 G30, SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 22 to 26
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, WNW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 6 to 8
  Elkton Snow: 5 to 7
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 3

Date: 04/08/2019

We’re starting into day two of Mom Natures Bring Back The Heat Festival. Sure is nice to have Mama remind us of what April can be like. Today mountain temperatures are going to spike into the forties, while valley temperatures may hit 50. Yesterday I took my shirt off in an attempt to reflect some of that heat back to the sun. Maybe if we group up and line Elk Ave we’ll have a greater effect?

On Tuesday the winds will increase from the southwest and pull in even warmer air for Mom Natures final day of the Bring Back The Heat Festival. After that festival, a low-pressure system rolls in, with a cold front to back it up, as we see a return to winter. It looks like we could have a game on refresh of new snow starting Wednesday and into Thursday. Unsettled weather looks to remain on Friday with the next storm that will take us into the start of the weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 42 to 46
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15 WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 26 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 13, W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 46 to 50
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/07/2019

Last nights’ small storm is moving out and the sky will be clearing this morning. A fairly flat high-pressure ridge will be building in today, with increasing temperatures and dry weather through Tuesday. Some bits of moisture look to make their way over Colorado at times bringing some high clouds, but generally, we’ll see mostly clear sky. High temperatures will be on the increase each day, taking us up to Tuesday. By Tuesday, valley temperatures will be reaching into the 50’s while 11,000ft temperatures look to hit the high 40’s. Those temperatures will see a big drop on Wednesday as a cold front move in, with the next low-pressure trough bringing back snow showers on Wednesday into Thursday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 35 to 39
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 23 to 27
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 39 to 43
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/06/2019

Colorado is looking at a weak trough passing through today which looked promising but now looks like a few scattered inches of snow this evening before high pressure returns tomorrow. With a warm and sunny trend to start next week, we can look ahead to the middle of the week for another potential spring storm heading our way. Expect sun and warm temperature this morning to give way to increasing cloudiness and light snow tonight.

• Today

  High Temperature: 35-40
  Winds/Direction: W, 5-15 mph
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20-25
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 33-38
  Winds/Direction: NW, 10-20 mph
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0