Date: 04/09/2020

Clear sky overnight has helped cold air pool in the valleys with a good freeze at lower elevations, while 12,000ft elevations recorded low temperatures closer to the freezing mark. Temperatures at 11,000ft will again rebound into the mid to upper 40’s today. Winds remain light and we are sitting under south to southwest flow. This morning’s cloud clover should push out for a period before we see A bit of moisture start getting pushed into the area this afternoon bringing a return to an increase in cloud cover. Then snow baby! There will be flakes, but they don’t appear to stack up much, or at all, by Friday morning.

The closed low to our southwest that has been talked about all week is still hanging out down there. The low never directly impacts Colorado as was once hoped. Instead it brings us a little unsettled weather here and there, before it eventually gets pushed east. For the weekend we will move under northwest flow. That will put us in a decreasing temperatures trend with our next chance of snow arriving Saturday Night.

• Today

  High Temperature: 45 to 49
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12/SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 24 to 28
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to Trace
  Elkton Snow: 0 to Trace
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to Trace

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 04/08/2020

We have another hot and dry one coming up. If you are bored at home, you could try frying some eggs on the snow surface. Than get back to us on how that works out. Today’s high temperatures will be similar to yesterday while wind speeds will be lower.

The Closed Low that has been hanging off the California Coast is finally going to make its way onshore today. We’ve been looking at this as our next storm. However, closed lows like to make up their own mind and this guy appears to fumble around the deserts southwest over the next few days and provide little in the may of moisture or snow for us. Looks like we may be measuring new snow that accumulates Thursday Night into Friday in millimeters :{

• Today

  High Temperature: 45 to 49
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 25 to 29
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 44 to 48
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12/SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/07/2020

Another warm and sunny day is in store as a large mid-level low-pressure system continues to hang out around along the coast of California. This will leave our area in dry SW flow with winds easing a bit as yesterday’s jet max departs the area. High temperatures will increase a few degrees today as the warm southerly air-mass remains in place.

Tomorrow the cut-off low begins to slowly move eastward as it gets a little help from a sub-tropical jet acting as a conveyor belt. High temperatures look to increase another few degrees under light SW flow. High clouds will begin to move into eastern Utah and western Colorado by tomorrow evening. Unsettled weather returns by Thursday and lasts through the weekend as the low slowly lifts northeast towards Colorado.

• Today

  High Temperature: 44 to 48
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/WSW G25
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 25 to 29
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 45 to 49
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/06/2020

A broad mid-level low-pressure system continues to slowly work its way south off the coast of California. This will keep our area in warm but dry SW flow. Breezy conditions with ample sunshine will prevail for the next few days as this cut-off system shows little eastward progression until getting picked up by the sub-tropical jet midday Wednesday. High temperatures today will top out a few degrees warmer than yesterday with very similar conditions for tomorrow.

Uncertainties remain regarding timing and track of this low as it moves across the Great Basin and towards Colorado by late Wednesday however a return to unsettled weather looks likely heading towards the end of the week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 42 to 46
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/SW G30
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 23 to 27
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 42 to 46
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/SW
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/05/2020

Southwest flow continues to dominate that weather pattern. Small amounts of moisture are being ushered into the area much like yesterday which will maintain some cloud cover and produce a few isolated snow showers. No accumulations are expected today. Air temperatures will increase slightly as compared to Saturday. Weather stations this morning already show temperatures around 5 degrees warmer than Saturday morning. Winds from the southwest are on a slight increase as well. Significant mixing will occur with gusty conditions reaching the valley floors

A large, cut-off low-pressure system continues to slowly slide down the Pacific Coast towards northern California. This system will dictate the weather for the next 5 or so days. Models suggest that this low-pressure system will slowly head towards the Four Corners region and began impacting western Colorado sometime late on Wednesday or Thursday. Look for this system to bring unsettled weather at the end of the workweek.

• Today

  High Temperature: 39 to 43
  Winds/Direction: 12 to 22/SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″ – few flurries
  Elkton Snow: 0″- few flurries
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″- few flurries

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 21 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 41 to 45
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

Date: 04/04/2020

For today, the Crested Butte area sits under a southwest flow. A small piece of moisture is working its way into the forecast area this morning, but accumulations as of 5 AM look to only be a trace for the highest terrain. Southwest flow will bring a return to more spring-like air temperatures with highs reaching close to 10 degrees warmer than yesterday. Skies are expected to be mostly cloudy, but sporadic periods of sunshine will help to warm surface temperatures. Snowfall will remain showery and light with accumulations of just an inch or two for the highest terrain on Saturday.

Conditions will largely remain dry from Sunday through about Wednesday. Expect warmer, seasonal, temperatures with somewhat gusty southwest winds. The next significant change in weather will occur around mid-week as a low-pressure system makes its way towards the Four Corners region. The end of the workweek will bring the next best chance for accumulating snowfall.

• Today

  High Temperature: 37 to 41
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18/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: 21 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 40 to 44
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

Date: 04/03/2020

Say hello to dry westerly flow. Friday sure is looking like a nice day. Temperatures plummeted overnight with the arrival of cold air. Valley elevations may be the only areas to get above freezing today, so expect slightly colder temperatures than the last several days, but we also have the strong April Sun. We can still see some periods of stronger winds today, but otherwise, those winds have been on a decrease overnight and that trend will continue into today.

Moisture starts to move in late on Friday and there is a chance for a couple of flakes to fall on Saturday morning. Looks like we’ll have a few more clouds on Saturday as we wait for the moisture to get pushed out, and high temperatures will rise another 5 to 8 degrees.

Nothing too exciting in the weather until maybe mid next week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 29 to 33
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 36 to 40
  Winds/Direction: 7 to 17/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/01/2020

Wednesday will be a transitional day ahead of an approaching low-pressure system out of the Northwest. Cloud cover will increase some today ahead of the approaching system with warm temperatures and moderate, yet gusty winds, from the southwest. Cloud cover continues to increase on Wednesday night providing a blanket to insulate against radiational cooling. A stray shower is possible overnight.

The incoming storm system looks to impact the area around midday on Thursday as an associated cold front reaches the Crested Butte area. Moderate snowfall will likely accompany the cold front, but this pulse of snowfall will likely be short-lived. Light snow will linger through Thursday night and taper off through Friday morning. Expect air temperatures on Thursday night and Friday morning to be well below seasonal norms as the area will be under a cold northwest flow. Snowfall totals are looking rather meager by the time the system moves eastward.

• Today

  High Temperature: 42 to 46
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 26 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 12 to 22/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to trace
  Elkton Snow: 0 to trace
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to trace

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 37 to 41
  Winds/Direction: 16 to 26/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4″

Date: 03/31/2020

The low-pressure trough that brought the latest round of snowfall has moved eastward and the area currently sits under a zonal, westerly, flow with mostly dry conditions. Cloud cover decreased overnight and should last through Tuesday night. Winds are forecasted to remain elevated on Tuesday and continue to drift snow at upper elevations. Air temperatures will rise a few degrees above seasonal norms on Tuesday and Wednesday. No precipitation is expected during the next two days, but some thin, high-level cloud cover could sag down from the north bringing a slight increase in cloud cover on Wednesday.

A low-pressure system in the Pacific Northwest will slowly slide to the southeast over the next couple of days. The next chance for accumulating snowfall will come on Thursday and Friday as the system from the northwest, along with it’s accompanying cold front, reach Colorado. It is a little early for snowfall numbers, but this system does not look impressive but should provide a refresh to surface conditions.

• Today

  High Temperature: 38 to 42
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 23 to 27
  Winds/Direction: 7 to 17/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 40 to 44
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

Date: 03/30/2020

The low-pressure trough is moving through Colorado this morning. Upper elevation winds are light for once and overnight snow accumulations only look like a dusting. Between early this morning and noon today is when the magic has got to happen. This will be our best chance for accumulating snow. Another 2 to 4” is in the forecast, big money lets beat that. This afternoon we’ll be moving into a drying trend for the coming week.

For Monday Night and looking out through most of the next week. We’ll be just south of any storms or snow for this time period. We’ll see an increase in winds and an increase in temperatures. We don’t have snow in the coming week’s forecast, but we do have the sun.

• Today

  High Temperature: 31 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 35 to 39
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0