Date: 02/04/2018

The flow of weather is still to our north and east as we continue to hang out on the dry side of the line. We would be lucky to see a dusting of snow today. Since we are just on the wrong side of the line, we don’t get the snow, but we do get the partly cloudy sky and gusty ridge top winds spilling over that line. A better developed low pressure trough will begin pushing further south tomorrow. We’ll see increasing cloud cover tomorrow with light snow showers developing in the afternoon and Monday night. We’re only looking at a few inches of new snow during that period. Heading into the rest of the work week, our area continues to hang out under the high-pressure ridge with no new snow accumulations until our next chance around next weekend.

• Today

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

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 35
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, West
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2 in the afternoon
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2 in the afternoon
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2 in the afternoon

Date: 02/03/2018

Overnight, light snow developed, but as of 6am, less than 1” of snow has fallen across the forecast area. Blustery west winds will continue, and bring a slightly stronger wave of moisture this evening, when light snow may redevelop. High pressure will re-build after this pulse of weather. Sunday and Monday look dry, with more light snow for Tuesday. If one had to put money on it, I’d say 3-6” on Tuesday for Kebler and Schofield, with more snow potential Friday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 40
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-1″

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 02/02/2018

Winds have ramped up once again above treeline this morning, and are blowing into the 50mph range at some locations ahead of the next ripple in the persistent northwesterly flow. Temperatures are once again startlingly balmy, as cloud cover has held daytime warmth from escaping overnight. Beginning tonight and tomorrow, we will finally see the some light snowfall out of the semi-continuous deck of clouds that have steadily streamed into our area since the Blood Moon. Accumulations look light, but favorable orographics and cold air advection could enhance snowfall starting tomorrow in those usual places on the western and northern portions of our forecast area. Stay tuned.

• Today

  High Temperature: 36
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 25
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-1″
  Elkton Snow: 0-1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 02/01/2018

Hang on a second, I need clean the mud off my glasses. The wind blew that puddle splash in my face…. Ok, thanks.
Well, after not freezing in Crested Butte last night, we’re in for another cloudy, windy and warm day today, and again tomorrow. The jet will stay just to our north, as will most of the snow for the next couple days.

• Today

  High Temperature: 30
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 40, West
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20, warmer in the valley floor
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 30, West
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 33
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 30, West
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Date: 01/31/2018

Last night’s low in Gothic was 34 degrees. I believe it’s the first time in recorded history that it didn’t drop below freezing on a January night according to billy barr’s records 50 years of daily weather observations.
With high pressure on the West Coast and low pressure over the Great Lakes, we’re stuck on the south side of a northwest jet stream. This pattern will keep wind, clouds, and warm air in our forecast for the rest of the work week, with most of the snow staying near the Colorado/Wyoming border.

• Today

  High Temperature: 35
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting into the 40’s, West
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 30, West
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 30
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 40, West
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Date: 01/30/2018

Is it March or is it just me? Today’s going to be warmer than yesterday as we sit on the south side of the jet stream under a dry warm westerly flow. We’ll see a few high clouds stream by as a sign of the wind and isolated snow showers to our north, but otherwise, it will feel like a typical spring day. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for two small systems at the end of this week to knock us back into winter by the weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 35@ 11k, over 40 in town
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, West, stronger along the crest of the Elks
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 25 at 11,000′; 5 in the valley bottom
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, West
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 32
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, West, gusting higher in the high peaks
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/29/2018

Sometimes change is good, and the 2017/2018 winter has yet to learn this. The dry weather pattern that has become the norm for this winter is back in place. High pressure is sitting to our west and the flow of storms is to our north. We’re not too far south of the game this week, but we’re out of the game never the less. We are looking towards the weekend again this week for our next major change in weather. Otherwise, the Gunnison Valley is back to strong temperature inversions this morning. High temperatures will be a bit warmer than yesterday and we should have another beautiful Colorado day. Pressure gradients will tighten and sag a bit south tomorrow, so stay heads up for that increase in wind speeds.

• Today

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

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 34
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/28/2018

2018 has given us a few storms keeping snow conditions fresh, but I sense people have stopped doing their snow dances? A high-pressure ridge is rebuilding as we stare down another weak of dry weather. High temperatures will gradually increase into the midweek while we see high clouds occasionally roll through. Not much else exciting to look at, just some nice Colorado weather coming down the pipe. Today, cold valley inversions will eventually warm and mix out. While some high clouds will pass through the area as a storm to our north brings some snow for northern Colorado.

• Today

  High Temperature: 28
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/NNW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 12
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/WNW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 01/27/2018

Sitting in the icebox of -21ºF in Crested Butte, with 7º at mid-mountain this morning as classic winter inversions have taken hold overnight. Taylor Reservoir looks to be the winner with -24ºF if looking to head that direction this morning… Dry, stable conditions will establish the trend for several days with high pressure ridging over southern California bumping the jet stream to our north to start the week. The ridge flattens slightly later in the week but generally storm-less flow is all we get…

• Today

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

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 32
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/NW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/26/2018

A weakening disturbance moved into the Elks overnight, with accumulating snow starting to add up around 4am.  This quick pulse may give us 2-4″, along with blustery west winds. Cold, orographic driven snow may linger across those usual areas near Kebler and Schofield Passes into the afternoon, potentially picking up more than current forecast. Look for clear skies and warming temps into the weekend, however the ridge begins to break down again midweek, opening the door for the potentially more snowfall around Tuesday and Wednesday. Models in disagreement at the moment, but bears watching.

• Today

  High Temperature: 18
  Winds/Direction: 10-20 G35/WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1-3″
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-2″

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

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