Date: 02/24/2019

The Crested Butte area will sit under a zonal flow for much of the week, but snow producing moisture and energy will largely be to our north so don’t expect any accumulating snowfall until later in the week. Skies will be a mix of clouds and sunshine with moderate temperatures. Expect winds to be blowing at moderate speeds out of the west. Models suggest that a series of Pacific storm will start to impact the area starting next weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 19 to 24
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 5 to 10
  Winds/Direction: 4 to 14, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 26 to 31
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

Date: 02/23/2019

Friday’s storm quickly exited the region last night, replaced with brisk northerly winds and cold, dry air. The area will sit in generally westerly flow over the next handful of days, with minimal chances for snowfall during this time. A chance to dig out! Valley inversions will likely take hold over the coming days, with light westerly winds at ridgetops. Looking ahead, next week looks generally dry, but models hint at another storm taking shape late in the workweek.

• Today

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

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 18-23
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 02/22/2019

The anticipated storm arrived last night, and light snow will continue to fall, especially in the typically snow favored areas to the west and north of Crested Butte in the Kebler and Schofield Pass areas. Unfortunately, the San Juans in this south-southwest flow very efficiently wring out the snow sponge, leaving us with the leftovers. With this storm, the San Juans are getting plastered, and we will be lucky and steal more than 4-8” from this southerly tracking closed low pressure by Saturday mid-day. Models have been waffling over the last 48hrs, yesterday they backed off precipitation, now they are bringing back more precipitation by Saturday midday. Northwest winds look to increase tomorrow as the storm exits. Looking toward the rest of the weekend, the atmosphere will dry out, potentially letting the elusive sun to shine for the first time in a number of days. Temperatures will also slowly rebound, and southwest winds look light. More light snow is not out of the question into next week, keeping skiing and riding conditions superb.

• Today

  High Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/SW G40s
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 4-6″
  Elkton Snow: 2-4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2-4″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -5 to 0
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/NW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2-4″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 15-25/NW
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0-1″
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 02/21/2019

Last night produced just a trace of new snow across the forecast area, but the low-pressure system, that has been producing small amounts of snow the past few days, is now in Nevada and is continuing its slow march towards Colorado. This morning the satellite imagery shows a healthy stream of moisture flowing into Colorado from the SW. It is currently snowing in our area, and it looks like we will see generally light snow for today with accumulations of a couple of inches with increasing wind speeds during the day. The San Juans are going to take the brunt of the snowfall today. Thursday night and Friday ought to be the best chance for substantial accumulations for the Gunnison Country. Models currently are showing close to a foot of snow by the end of Friday for the higher elevations; keep your fingers crossed.

• Today

  High Temperature: 14 to 19
  Winds/Direction: 7 to 17, S
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 6 to 12
  Winds/Direction: 6 to 16, SSE
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 4 to 7″
  Elkton Snow: 4 to 7″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 5″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 21 to 26
  Winds/Direction: 6 to 16, SE
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 5″

Date: 02/20/2019

The latest round of moisture produced just a couple inches around the forecast area; light orographic snow showers continue around the Ruby Range this morning. Yesterday’s trough has moved eastward with the next system looking to arrive late this evening. This next system looks to be very similar to the last; a low-pressure system is pushing down from the northwest and will slide towards the Four Corners region putting the area under a southwest flow. This system looks to produce snow from Wednesday night through Friday afternoon. Winds are already on the increase overnight and will likely stay elevated throughout the day. Expect significant drifting with ample soft snow for transport.

• Today

  High Temperature: 9 to 14
  Winds/Direction: 13 to 23, WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -3 to 2
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18, SW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 5″
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 5″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 15 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18, S
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3″
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

Date: 02/19/2019

Yesterday afternoon and last night brought a couple inches of snow with light SW winds from a trough over the Great Basin. Today the trough will move eastward over Colorado and pass by this evening. Today we can expect continued light snowfall with accumulations around 3 to 5 inches across the forecast area. Winds are expected to remain light throughout the day. Wednesday there will be a short break in snowfall as the area will be between two troughs. Snowfall looks to pick back up on Wednesday evening as the next trough begins to impact the area. Winds are expected to be on the increase on Wednesday on the front end of the next system. It appears like we will see a steady trickle of snowfall Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. No individual day looks to offer dramatic accumulations but snow totals will add up to around a foot by the end of the work week on Friday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 9 to 14
  Winds/Direction: 7 to 17, SW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 5″
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 5″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 5″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -9 to -4
  Winds/Direction: 4 to 14, WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 11 to 16
  Winds/Direction: 12 to 22, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

Date: 02/18/2019

The big low-pressure trough is still hanging out over the western US, and it looks to stay in place most of this week. So that means unsettled weather and a couple storms throughout the week! Temperatures remain cold and below average, while winds should stay light into the midweek.

Starting the week off, snow will favor southern Colorado. We will see some flurries around Crested Butte today, then our snowfall should pick up late this afternoon and into Tuesday Morning. Snow totals by Tuesday morning should be in the 4 to 8 range of some nice light fluff!

• Today

  High Temperature: 12 to 17
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, S
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 5 to 10
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, SSE
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 5
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 5
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 4 to 6

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 12 to 17
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, WSW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

Date: 02/17/2019

We got a big old sagger out there and its a good thing! A big old Low-Pressure trough is hanging out over the Western US. We’ll see fairly calm winds in the near future and below average temps as cold air streams in from the north. Lingering moisture is keeping the possibility for light snowfall at times. The chance of snowfall increases Sunday night, and Monday. Then the snow should start adding up again Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning. Yeahaw.

• Today

  High Temperature: 12 to 18
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15 WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -3 to 2
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15 S
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 12 to 18
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20 S
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

Date: 02/16/2019

Yet another wave of moisture will arrive early this morning and rapidly drop an additional 4-8” of snow across our forecast area with the western mountains favored. The heart of the storm and the peak intensity will move through this morning, around 0900. Then, orographic snow will thrive in the moist, cold, northwest flow, especially across Kebler and Schofield Pass areas. Temperatures will fall back into the teens, with overnight lows dipping below zero. The next small wave of snowfall looks to be Sunday evening, with a few more ripples passing the central Rockies into early next week, before a larger storm potentially Wednesday or Thursday. Old Man Winter ain’t done yet!

• Today

  High Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 15-30mph G60/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 3-6″
  Elkton Snow: 2-4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2-4″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -10 to -5
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/W
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 1-3″
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 7-10
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 02/15/2019

What a storm! Though most probably believed they would be seeing snowfall today, the fire hose of moisture has departed, as quickly as it arrived- just as forecast. We will see lingering snow showers on the spine of the Elk Mountains early, giving way to sunshine for most the day as a very short-lived ridge of high pressure passes overhead before yet another shot of snowfall tonight and into tomorrow. This next storm carried with it colder air, and Gulf of Alaska origins, so expect more routine snowfall. The crazy train of storms continues tomorrow, through the weekend, and into next week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 25-30
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1-3″
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10-15
  Winds/Direction: 10-20 G40
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 2-4″
  Elkton Snow: 2-4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2-4″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 10-15
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WNW G40s
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 3-6″
  Elkton Snow: 2-4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2-4″