Date: 03/15/2018

An active week of weather started last night with a dribble, of rain that is. Freezing levels sat well over 10,000′.
A large closed low off the Pacific coast will sling moisture towards Colorado several times over the next week, with the first wave arriving this afternoon escorted in by a potent cold front. That means we can expect a good burst of snow and dropping temperatures beginning mid-afternoon, with snowfall ending by tomorrow morning.
Friday through Saturday morning, we’ll see a brief window of high pressure before our next storm lines up for Saturday night into Sunday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 34
  Winds/Direction: 10-20, gusting to 40 in the PM, Southwest
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 5″
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 6″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10
  Winds/Direction: 20-30, gusting to 45, West
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 6″
  Elkton Snow: 4 to 8″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 25
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting to 30, West
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

Date: 03/14/2018

Clouds and atmospheric moisture will begin to push out the ridge of high pressure from the past two days. Once the clouds build, expect that chance for some isolated snow showers in the afternoon. Air temperatures will rise from the past two days to near record levels. Exact high temps will depend on the level of sunshine versus cloud cover but will exceed 40 degrees. Winds will be on the increase as the next storm moves in. The brunt of the moisture will arrive during the day on Thursday and continue through Friday evening.

• Today

  High Temperature: 42
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, Southwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 25
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, Southwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 32
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, Southwest
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4

Date: 03/13/2018

Today a high-pressure ridge will build into our area from the west. The sky will be partly cloudy with a healthy dose of sunshine. Expect temperatures to rise a few degrees warmer than yesterday. High temperatures will reach the warmest of the season. Spring has arrived in the Gunnison Valley.

• Today

  High Temperature: 39
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, West
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 03/12/2018

Looks like we have a beautiful day coming up, with a very weak disturbance passing this afternoon. Look for some clouds to build in the afternoon and westerly winds to pick up a little. Otherwise, winds have been light and variable and conditions generally mild. A High-pressure ridge will take hold after this little disturbance and keep the area high and dry until the midweek. Tuesday will really be a lovely spring day if you can make it out. The long range forecast has a big low-pressure system churning around out in the Pacific. What we don’t know about this big low-pressure system is what it will look like when it eventually moves inland, and how it will track across the US. What we do know about it, is that it will spin off waves of moisture before it moves inland. The first wave of moisture looks to bring increasing clouds Wednesday afternoon/evening and maybe a little snow.

• Today

  High Temperature: 36
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, West
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10, variable
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 38
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10, variable
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/11/2018

We’re back to hanging out on the line. On one side of the line, we’ll be swallowed by clouds and the other side of the line we’ll be on the clear sky side. Where will we end up today, I’m a little uncertain and afraid we could get swallowed. A weak disturbance is pushing moisture into Southern Colorado today bringing the chance for a little snow, but mostly clouds. Eventually, that moisture and other clouds upstream will push up and through our area but the timing for that looks to be later this afternoon and into tonight. We’re not looking at snow during this time, just clouds. Ooo fun. On Tuesday a high-pressure ridge slides back over the area as we look at a high and dry week. Spring baby. Just about the time we’re all fried out, there is a big low-pressure system a brewing out there in the Pacific for the uncertain long-range forecast.

• Today

  High Temperature: 35
  Winds/Direction: 0 to 10, variable
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 36
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, West
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/10/2018

The sprinkles held off last night but will the sprinkles do their sprinkle thing today? Don’t get too excited, but we still have a small chance of picking up a dusting of snow today. That means we’ll also be hanging out with mostly cloudy to partly cloudy sky across the forecast area. Drier air will start pushing in on northwest flow this afternoon while we see increasing moisture for southern Colorado. It looks like we’re staying on the dry side of the line and should see some nice weather on Sunday, but we could see some clouds push further north and into the area, most likely Sunday afternoon into Monday morning. Next week looks to move back to some high and dry beach weather. Can’t wait to tan the guns.

• Today

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 36
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, Variable Northwest
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/09/2018

High clouds started increasing yesterday afternoon and have settled in overnight. With westerly winds steady in the 10 to 20mph range. Today will be interesting, not in the sense of pow, unfortunately, but as the Sun, clouds and high temperatures all jokey for a position. Cloud cover will move between partly to mostly cloudy sky from high clouds and increase in the afternoon. While temperatures are also forecasted to increase from yesterdays highs. Will the sun break through the clouds and create some green housing and help warm frozen snow surfaces, we will see. A low-pressure system is passing north and east of Colorado over the next 36 hours and bringing us this cloudy sky. New snow amounts, if any, during this period don’t look like much. Then the high-pressure ridge sides a bit further east and puts us back in the high and dry category for the end of the weekend into the start of next week.

• Today

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

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, West
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 30
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

Date: 03/08/2018

High pressure continues to build over the Western US. Today will look a lot like yesterday but another 5 degrees warmer and a bit windier. Tomorrow will continue that same pattern of increasing temps and winds, though we’ll see high clouds develop in advance of Saturday morning’s dust on crust extravaganza.

• Today

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

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 42
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, West
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/07/2018

An approaching Ridge of high pressure will usher in a few high clouds this afternoon, lasting overnight. By tomorrow skies will clear and the temps will take a significant bump up, putting our alpine terrain well above freezing.
Friday we’ll see a change in the weather with an approaching system over the weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 32
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, Northwest
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15 West Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 38
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, West Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/06/2018

As Sunday’s storm has now exited the area to the east, a ridge of high pressure is building over the western US and Colorado. This ridge will bring clear skies, warming temperatures, and a dry northwest flow. Temperatures will continue to rise from Monday’s cold high temps throughout the week with each successive day. The ridge of high pressure will remain through the end of the week until the next storm system pushes it out around the weekend timeframe. Today winds will become lighter than they have been the past few days.

• Today

  High Temperature: 25
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/West Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

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