Date: 04/04/2018

Today and Tomorrow offer fairly uneventful weather as we lead up to another significant round of moisture arriving Thursday night through Sunday.
For the short term, expect a continued warming trend, today warmer than yesterday and tomorrow warmer still. We’ll also see increasing high thin clouds this afternoon, then again tomorrow clouds will ramp up even more before the first snowflakes fall Thursday night into Friday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 38
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, West
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, West Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 43
  Winds/Direction: 15-25, West Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/03/2018

The cold front that whipped through last night left 4″ of new snow along the Elk Mountains, 2″ at the top of CBMR, and a paltry skiff here in town. Pre-frontal winds peaked yesterday afternoon with a high gust of 87 mph up on Scarp Ridge. Now that the front has blown through, we’re in for a beautiful and cool day, with moderate winds.
By tomorrow the temperatures will rebound back to well above freezing, with a few more clouds signaling the changes to come this weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 25
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting to 30, Northwest
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 15
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, West
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 40
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting to 30, West
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/02/2018

Get ready for the wind baby, it’s going to get nasty out there later today. Let’s start with last night though, we had another week freeze above 11,000ft and mostly above freezing low temperatures at weather stations below that elevation. Looks like there were a few pockets of colder air. Today will start off with partly cloudy sky and climbing temperatures back near 40 degrees at 11,000ft. Then we will see the winds start ramping up as pressure gradients tighten ahead of a low-pressure trough. Westerly winds will be gusting into the 50s and up, with peak gusts being reached tonight. Those strong winds will also start mixing down into the valleys this afternoon. We could also see a dusting of snow towards the end of the day. A cold front will make its way into the area tonight and bring a big drop in temperatures tomorrow. Skys look to clear on Tuesday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 45
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25 G40, West
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 15
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25 G 50, West Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: o to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 28
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, West
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 04/01/2018

Warm, windy and cloudy. Clouds increased yesterday afternoon and stayed overcast last night. With temperatures not dropping below freezing near and below 11,000ft. While west to southwest winds continue to stay strong and gusty at upper elevations. Satellite imagery shows clearing sky on the Colorado/Utah border at 4am that should continue to push into our area this morning. Otherwise, today’s weather should be similar to yesterday with partly cloudy sky, high temperatures at 11,000ft near 40 degrees and continued strong westerly winds. Monday afternoon could bring a dusting of snow at upper elevations, then temperatures will finally drop as cold front swings through on Tuesday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 45
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20 West
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 30
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20 West Southwest
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 45
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25 West Southwest
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/31/2018

Another dry, partly cloudy day on tap with strong westerly winds near and above treeline as a rippling disturbance over Wyoming brushes to our north. Temperatures look to climb a few degrees higher than yesterday. Looking ahead, there is a chance for light precipitation Monday and cooler temperatures as tatters of Pacific moisture are ripped off the main flow and sent inland across the Great Basin.

• Today

  High Temperature: 41
  Winds/Direction: 15-25/W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 26
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 43
  Winds/Direction: 5-10/W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/30/2018

Yesterday’s showery snowfall along the Elk Mountain spine produced about 1″ of new snow in the Kebler and Schofield Pass areas, with winds gusting into the 20s and 30s overnight.

Clear skies will take hold as the ridge wobbles over the central Rockies. Northern Colorado may see redeveloping snowfall tonight, but the Elk Mountains should stay dry with only an increase of clouds expected. We should see 5-10º warmer temperatures across the forecast area as flow shifts from the northwest to more westerly, bringing in warmer drier air from the Great Basin and Utah desert. Looking ahead, the flow stays dry, with gradually warming temperatures through the weekend. Long term looks dry as well, with a Bering Sea ridge setting up over the Aleutian Islands and that high pressure steering significant moisture south toward Mexico.

• Today

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

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WNW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 40
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/29/2018

Last night’s dirty ridge, or moist northwest flow, left about 3″ in the high country from Irwin to Paradise Divide and along the Elk crest, tapering down to just a skiff of snow near town.
With high pressure on the Pacific Coast and Low Pressure over the Great Plains, Colorado remains in the crosshairs of a weak northwest jet stream. Today we’ll see this breezy northwest flow continue, with a few clouds and a chance for a snowflake or two in the afternoon over the high peaks.

• Today

  High Temperature: 30
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting to 30, Northwest
  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
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15 West Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 37
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting to 30, West
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/28/2018

A weak low pressure system ran through southern Colorado yesterday into New Mexico last night. Now we sit in the northwest flow on the backside of that trough for the next couple days. There’s enough moisture embedded in this breezy Northwest flow that we’ll see a few orographically driven showers this afternoon and evening. Accumulations will be greatest over the high peaks of the Ruby Range and the Elk Mountains. Not much if any snow for town.

• Today

  High Temperature: 31
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting to 30 in PM, Northwest
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″ this evening
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″ this evening
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 5″ this evening

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting to 30, Northwest
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 03/27/2018

Split flow continues with the polar jet moving moisture to our north, and a closed low pressure to our south spinning wrap around moisture onto the Front Range and east facing Sawatch. Just as a late night spring breaker stumbles toward home, the closed low spins off toward Oklahoma throughout the day. Weak northwest flow brings broken pieces of moisture into our area mountains but accumulations will remain light. Unsettled weather and mild temperatures continue through the week, but no single precipitation band looks too significant.

• Today

  High Temperature: 33
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/E
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1-3″
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 15
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/NNW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-1″
  Elkton Snow: 0-1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-1″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 33
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

Date: 03/26/2018

A complicated storm system is splintering across the Great Basin today, and uncertainty remains about how much snowfall we can expect in the Elk Mountains. Scattered snow showers can be expected, but accumulations will likely remain minimal. Westerly winds will kick above treeline today with this passing front and temperatures should reach the low 30s. If I had a day off, I might roll over to the Monarch Pass area tomorrow as a wrap around moisture component could favor the Sangre de Cristos and Sawatch. More unsettled weather arrives on favorable northwest flow Wednesday afternoon.

• Today

  High Temperature: 32
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WSW
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 13
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/N
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-1″
  Elkton Snow: 0-1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-1″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 33
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/N
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1-3″
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″