Date: 01/15/2019

Here we go, the next round of moisture is making its way towards Crested Butte! Today you can expect increasing cloud cover with the possibility of light snow for the favored areas to the west of town. Tuesday night and Wednesday will produce significant accumulations across much of the forecast area with the best snow, per usual, in areas from Kebler Pass to Schofield Pass. Thursday should have continued cloud cover with light snow before a second system impacts the area on Thursday night and Friday. Looks like we are in store for a few nice powder days!

• Today

  High Temperature: 25 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 7 to 17, SW
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 12 to 17
  Winds/Direction: 7 to 17, WSW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 5 to 8″
  Elkton Snow: 5 to 8″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 6″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 25 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 4 to 7″
  Elkton Snow: 4 to 7″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 6″

Date: 01/14/2019

Today you can expect mostly clear skies as the area sits between systems with slightly warmer air temps than yesterday. A low-pressure system is rotating off the coast of California and is slowly making its way eastward. Expect clouds to build on Tuesday in front of this low. The first moisture from this system will impact the area on Tuesday night with light snow showers. Snow will become more widespread on Wednesday as a series of shortwave disturbances are tossed out in front of the low-pressure system.

• Today

  High Temperature: 24 to 29
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 5 to 10
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 27 to 32
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

Date: 01/13/2019

For Sunday a closed low-pressure system is sitting over southern Utah and will pass by to the south of Colorado. This system will have just enough energy and moisture to keep the clouds and a few snowflakes around for another day. Accumulations will be just an inch or two at best. Winds will remain light today as they have for the past couple of days. Skies will begin to clear a bit on Monday before the next approaching snow producer that looks to arrive sometime during the middle of this week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 19 to 24
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, SE
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 2 to 7
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 24 to 29
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12, W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: o
  Elkton Snow: o
  Friend’s Hut Snow: o

Date: 01/12/2019

A very interesting and unusual weather scenario has been unfolding at the higher levels of the atmosphere yesterday, overnight, and continuing today. Somewhat rare northeasterly flow is drawing moisture from a strengthening “upslope” storm event on the Front Range, and bringing it back over to the western slope. Although we will not see impressive snowfall, we may sneak out a few more flakes over the course of the day. However, uncertainty is high with this rare pattern, so be prepared for surprises, especially if day time heating spurs some convective snow showers. Models do indicate our forecast area could pick up a quick 1-3” this afternoon and before moisture dissipates this evening. Temperatures should remain mild, and winds well behaved in the 5-15mph range.

• Today

  High Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 0-10/NE
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1-3″ PM
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″ PM
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″ PM

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 01/11/2019

Those cold valley inversions got pushed out last night with temps around 20 at both valley elevations and 11,000ft. We got a dusting of snow overnight with CBMR getting 50% more snow then the typically favored Irwin. Unfortunately, we are only talking 2” vs 1”. This is the setting for this storm, as more snow will accumulate further east, primarily in the Sawatch and out to the Front Range. We’ll continue to see overcast sky in our forecast area and could pick up another inch or couple today. Winds look to tick up slightly this afternoon as well. Looking at the weekend, we’ll continue to see clouds hanging out in the area and a couple more inches of snow toward the end of the weekend. Looking at the start of next week, moisture appears to undercut the high-pressure ridge we were talking about yesterday. More on that later, but for now it doesn’t look like clear weather to start the weak.

• Today

  High Temperature: 20 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15 N
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 3

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10 to 15
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10 E
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 25 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10 W
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/10/2019

Another clear and inverted morning as valley temps are near 10F in Crested Butte and 25F at 11,000ft. Temperatures will again rebound nicely today. Clouds will begin increasing today ahead of a small storm for Thursday Night into Friday. Looks like we are kinda getting left out on this one. Hopefully we’ll pull off a couple inches in the Kebler and Paradise Divide areas, otherwise, the better snow will develop further east then Crested Butte. We’ll see another ridge developing later this weekend and bringing dry weather for that period and to start the week.

• Today

  High Temperature: 30 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10 W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 15 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10 NW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 3
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 25 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15 NNW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4

Date: 01/09/2019

Colorado is sitting under a high-pressure ridge as we look ahead to another day of dry and mild weather. High clouds are streaming across the area this morning and we’ll continue to see some more high clouds throughout the day. Our next change in weather comes around Thursday night as a shortwave trough moves through Colorado. Currently, we’re looking at a few inches of snow before returning to dry weather for the weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 30 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15 SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10 W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 30 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10 W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/08/2019

The snowy weather from the past few days has pushed eastward and a ridge of high pressure is building into the area today. You can expect this ridge to hold in place through Thursday before a weak and dry trough possibly produces a few snowflakes at the end of the work week. Temperatures will be fairly mild following the last round of snow with some clouds lingering today. There are no significant storms on the horizon at the moment.

• Today

  High Temperature: 27 to 32
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10 to 15
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 30 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/07/2019

Snowfall continued overnight even as the area transitioned from yesterdays storm to a second fast-moving wave of moisture traveling across Utah and into western Colorado today. For today expect a strong period of snowfall from around sunrise through early afternoon with snowfall tapering off into the evening hours. Strong westerly winds will be associated with this snowmaker as it passes through the area today. By tomorrow skies will start to clear as a high-pressure ridge builds across Colorado and stays with us until about Friday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 17 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, W G40’s
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 6″
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 6″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10 to 15
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, 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: 25 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

Date: 01/06/2019

A significant system began pushing into the Crested Butte area early this morning with close to two inches at Irwin and one inch at CBMR as of 630 am. This system has impressive moisture and strong dynamics. Expect the potential for heavy snowfall from sunrise through midday today with continued snowfall tonight and tomorrow. Winds will blow at moderate speeds out of the west with enough strength to blow the new snow around.

• Today

  High Temperature: 20 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SW G30s
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 5 to 8″
  Elkton Snow: 5 to 8″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 6″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 5 to 10
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 20 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 5″
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 5′
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″