Date: 01/15/2018

We are still hanging out on the dry side of the line today. The edge of a low-pressure trough is running down the front range of Colorado while our forecast area is in a narrow ridge of high pressure. We see some high clouds spilling over our area today, otherwise it should be another bluebird Colorado day. Other then some high clouds running through the area on Wednesday we’ll have to look towards the end of the week for the next change in weather as another trough of low pressure drops in for the weekend.

• Today

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

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 01/14/2018

We’re sitting on the eastern edge of a narrow ridge of high pressure. Northern and eastern Colorado will see some clouds and a little snow while we’ll be hanging out on the dry side of the line. Other then the potential for a few high clouds over the next 24 hours, we don’t have much going on and we’ll be making the most of this mild weather. There could be some small changes in the weather around midweek, otherwise, we’ll have to look towards next weekend of the next change in weather. Enjoy that blue sky and beautiful Colorado weather. Snowstorms are so overrated.

• Today

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

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 01/13/2018

Our beloved northwest flow created stubborn orographic snow showers yesterday that accumulated an additional 6-8” of low density fluff in those classic favored areas near Irwin and Schofield Pass. Today, we will climb out of the below zero icebox this morning and strong sunshine will provide a beautiful Colorado day with temperatures warming slightly and winds subsiding. High pressure and transient dry air will take hold for several days, with a slim chance for flurries Monday. Models have begun to come to early agreement our next significant snowfall will arrive Friday through Sunday. Stay tuned.

• Today

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

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10
  Winds/Direction: 5-10/NNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 01/12/2018

The weak storm system passing to our north will throw a few flakes our way but accumulations will remain light. Orographics and cold air advection in northwesterly flow aloft will keep light snow and cloudiness going over higher terrain most of the day before tapering toward sunset. Moderate west winds will blow most the day, peaking early afternoon. These winds will make travel near and above treeline a cold one. Temperatures stay chilly with highs at 11,000 staying in the low to mid 20s. Looking ahead, high pressure takes hold for the early part of next week, before more storminess returns for the next weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 24
  Winds/Direction: 10-20 G30/WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1-2″
  Elkton Snow: 1-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 24
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/NW
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/11/2018

Yesterday’s storm has moved on to our east. This morning we’ll see clearing skies, cool temps and breezy northwest winds as high pressure builds to our west. Later today high clouds return as a some moisture runs north of us tonight and tomorrow morning, before clearing out for the weekend.

• Today

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

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10, colder in the valley floor
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting 30, Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 25
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, gusting to 30, Northwest
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

Date: 01/10/2018

A potent closed low-pressure system is tracking through New Mexico today, spinning moisture up towards us on a southwest flow this morning. The warm pre-fontal part of the storm will bring a small amount of dense snow this morning. Then as the storm progresses eastward a cold front will fill in behind it, putting us under our beloved westerly flow for several hours early this afternoon. We can expect nice blizzard conditions after lunch. This evening the storm will wrap up under a cold and dry northwest flow that will carry through tomorrow.

• Today

  High Temperature: 30
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, gusting to 40, starting Southwest, then West, then Northwest
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 8 to 10″
  Elkton Snow: 6 to 8″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 4 to 6″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 0
  Winds/Direction: 20 to 30, gusting to 50, Northwest
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2″

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 01/09/2018

Where are we Whistler? We just had a 10″ powder day on Sunday, and now we’re we’re in for two more snowy days in a row. Wow, it’s great to see winter make a return.
A closed low pressure system sits in the Great Basin right now, spinning moisture our way on a Southwest flow. Today we’ll see light snow, before the storm ramps up with big winds tonight. The snowfall will get going in earnest after midnight tonight, carrying through the day tomorrow. By Thursday morning, we’ll see storm totals in the high country of around a foot, with maybe half that here in Crested Butte.

• Today

  High Temperature: 32
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, gusting 30, Southwest
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3″
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 25
  Winds/Direction: 20 to 30, gusting to 50 West, becoming Northwest
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 5 to 8″
  Elkton Snow: 5 to 8″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 4 to 6″

Date: 01/08/2018

We have another one of those January spring days coming up as we await the next change in weather tonight. Valley low temperatures are in the single digits this morning while higher elevations are in the 20 to 30-degree range. Mountain temperatures will jump above freezing today as warm is pushed into the area on southwest flow. A Low-Pressure system is hanging out on the California coast today (poor beach people). That low-pressure system will push moisture into our area this afternoon with increasing clouds and snow starting around midnight. We should wake up tomorrow with a few inches accumulated and see snow showers continue into the mid-day. A closed low will then track south of Colorado through the mid-week keeping us in unsettled weather. Wednesday is looking best for accumulating snow but we’ll have to see where this closed low tracks. Northwest flow will finish out the week with a disturbance toward the end of the week, but looks to miss us to the north at this point.

• Today

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

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 28
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 34
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

Date: 01/07/2018

Drier air is moving in early this morning as the low-pressure trough responsible for last nights snow moves out. It looks like we’re done with snowfall but we could see a few showers lasting through the morning hours along the crest of the Ruby Range. Clouds will be decreasing today with generally moderate northwest winds. Some stronger wind gusts may develop this afternoon. Clearing sky tonight should help with a good drop in low temperatures. A high-pressure ridge is building in for Monday while a low-pressure system drops down the west coast of California and lines up for our next weather system. Developing southwest flow on Monday will bring an increasing temperature trend into Tuesday. We’ll also see increasing moister arriving with that southwest flow on Tuesday as clouds build and our next winter storm arrives. That storm looks to take us through the Tuesday-Wednesday timeframe but we’ll wait to dial in the timing until tomorrow morning. If I had a private jet, I’d ski the fresh pow today, then fly to Calli and surf the low-pressure system, before racing it back to Colorado for the next round of snow. If….

• Today

  High Temperature: 28
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/WNW
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2 am
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2 am
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2 am

• Tonight

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

• Tomorrow

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

Date: 01/06/2018

High and lower level clouds will increase throughout the morning and into the afternoon as today’s weather maker marches across the Great Basin throughout the day. Estimated arrival time remains on track for snow to start flying mid afternoon and continue into the overnight hours. This digging low pressure tough looks to give the Elk Mountains favorable jet support aloft, reinforcing orographic lift. Snowfall with be accompanied by winds in the 20-30mph range this evening, with favored locations such as Schofield and Kebler Passes lined up for 8-10” of potentially dense snow. This storm then continues to digs into New Mexico tomorrow morning, carrying moisture away, but leaving cold northwest flow in its wake. Another storm looks on track for Tuesday/Wednesday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 28
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0-2 PM
  Elkton Snow: 0-2 PM
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-1″ PM

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 15
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/W
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 7-10″
  Elkton Snow: 7-10″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 6-8″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 28
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WNW
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0