Date: 03/19/2020

Here it comes….winters back baby! A moist and energetic storm started to impact the area very early this morning. Several inches of snow has already accumulated as of 5am and weather models are forecasting consistent snow through sunset and lighter showers until Friday morning. Wind directions have been from the east this morning but will transition to a more westerly direction as the storm moves eastward. Temperatures look to stay near or below the freezing mark today. Winds look modest with this system but strong enough to transport the new snow at upper elevations.

Snow showers are expected to linger on Friday and Saturday, but accumulations look relatively light but this may add a few additional inches into the weekend. Sunday and Monday are looking like drier days before another low-pressure system swings into the area. The storm for early next week looks much like that storms of the past few weeks by tracking towards the Four Corners region.

• Today

  High Temperature: 25 to 29
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/WSW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 9 to 13″
  Elkton Snow: 9 to 13″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 6 to 10″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 13 to 17
  Winds/Direction: 6 to 16/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 5″
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 5″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 24 to 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″

Date: 03/18/2020

A dynamic spring storm is making its way through the Great Basin towards Colorado today. Energy will split with the stronger northern Low “slinging” the southern Low into our area. Timing and track of these types of storms are crucial to snowfall amounts and there remains a bit of uncertainty regarding both of those factors. One thing is certain and that is large amounts of moisture will be available. Clouds will thicken today with accumulating snow holding off until this evening.

Snowfall ramps up tonight and into tomorrow as the flow will shift from south to west with colder air filtering in. The heaviest snow for our area will most likely occur after the winds switch, allowing orographics to lift available moisture. Plan on overcast skies, gusty winds and snowfall throughout the day tomorrow with below-average temperatures.

• Today

  High Temperature: 37 to 41
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18/ SSW
  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 to 24
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 10/ S switching to W
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 7″
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 7″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 5″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 26 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/ W G30
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 5 to 10″
  Elkton Snow: 5 to 10″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 7″

Date: 03/17/2020

A broad area of Low pressure off the coast of California has cut off from the main flow and will be slowly drifting south today before energy splits and stalls over the Great Basin. Under moist southerly flow, we will see another mild day with above-average temperatures and passing clouds. Winds will increase as the pressure gradient tightens and the jet stream moves closer.

Expect clouds to increase tomorrow as the splitting shortwave moves closer drawing in even more moisture in SSW flow. Temperatures will cool a bit tomorrow with cloud cover and increasing winds. Significant precipitation looks to hold off until late tomorrow into Thursday when the shortwave finally moves through with unsettled weather hanging around the Western US through the weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 42 to 46
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, SSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 20 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, SSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 37 to 41
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, SSW G25
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 2″

Date: 03/16/2020

We have another dry and warm day coming up. Partly cloudy sky remains in Mondays forecast, though I expect to see fewer clouds than yesterday, and the cloud forecast getting closer to few or the mostly sunny line. We didn’t see winds mixings down to mountain top elevations yesterday, 12,000ft winds have increased over the last few hours and we again have the chance for upper elevation winds to reach into the 30’s today. Otherwise expect another day of calm conditions. High temperatures on Tuesday increase another few degrees, but increasing cloud cover may help keep a lid on temperatures getting two crazy.

The mid to late weak weather will come from the low-pressure system moving from the California Coast, up through the desert Southwest and eventually through Colorado. Precipitation looks to start late on Wednesday and could continue through Friday. Snow totals are unsure at the moment and those estimates will be getting dialed in soon.

• Today

  High Temperature: 40 to 44
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 23 to 27
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 42 to 46
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/SW
  Sky Cover: Increasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/15/2020

Here we go, it’s going to be a beautiful day to get outside. 11,000ft temperatures will rise to near 40, and low valleys like Crested Butte and Gunnison will be even warmer of course. Winds on the high peaks could get into the 20-30mph range, but those winds don’t look to mix down to lower elevations, so we are mostly looking at fairly calm conditions out there. We’ll get more sun than the last few days, but still partly cloudy sky with a few clouds rolling through.

Dry weather starts off next week and next week will nearly be a copy of last week. Another low-pressure system is moving down the West Coast to California, and then it looks to lift up and through Colorado over the mid-week. Precipitation looks to start up late on Wednesday and continue into at least Thursday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 38 to 42
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/SW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 16 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 38 to 42
  Winds/Direction: 2 to 12/W
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/14/2020

The weather looks to be all about tapering today. Snowfall looks to taper, cloud cover is going to taper, winds are doing the tapering thing, and well temperatures want to do their own thing and will climb to just above freezing at 11,000ft. The Ruby Range may hold onto mostly cloudy sky, while areas near and east of Crested Butte will fall closer to a partly cloudy sky.

Sunday looks like it could be a beautiful day with generally dry weather heading into the start of next week. Hopefully, the weather is tapering off so it can rest up and get ready for its next big event. Another low-pressure system will again be dropping down the West Coast over the next several days and looks to begin impacting our area with the next storm Wednesday night into Thursday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 33 to 37
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 36 to 40
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18/WSW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 03/13/2020

The low-pressure system milling around the southern California coast has made its way eastward bringing warm and moist air to Colorado. Precipitation has reached the San Juans early this morning and will slide northward across the state. Snowflakes will start falling around sunrise today. Much of the precipitation will fall on Friday and Friday night, but light snow will linger through Saturday for the Crested Butte area. This warm system may bring the chance for rain at the lowest elevations.

Sunday through the middle of next week may bring mildly unsettled weather to Crested Butte, but no significant accumulations are expected during this period. Air temperatures will be very warm as the area sits under a southwest flow. The next chance at substantial snow accumulations will come towards the end of the workweek.

• Today

  High Temperature: 31 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 8-18/SSW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 5-8″
  Elkton Snow: 5-8″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 4-6″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 21 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 8-18/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 4-6″
  Elkton Snow: 4-6″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3-5″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 35 to 39
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

Date: 03/12/2020

Last evening brought a round of light rain to valley bottoms around Crested Butte which sure feels out of place for the first half of March. Sometime after midnight, the light rain turned back to snow for the lowest elevations. Light snowfall is expected to continue for the morning but should taper off before the afternoon. Cloud cover will briefly decrease this afternoon before building overnight.

A low-pressure system off the California coast will make its way inland on Thursday afternoon and spread precipitation across Colorado on Friday morning. Snowfall is expected to last through the first half of Saturday. Forecast models are currently showing a range of 6 to 12 inches by Saturday morning with this system favoring areas to the west and north of Crested Butte. Saturday might just be a legitimate powder day.

• Today

  High Temperature: 36 to 40
  Winds/Direction: 8-18/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-1″
  Elkton Snow: 0-1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-trace

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 21 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 3-13/S
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0″
  Elkton Snow: 0″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 30 to 34
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/SW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 4-8″
  Elkton Snow: 4-8″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3-6″

Date: 03/11/2020

A low-pressure system just off the southern California coast forced a blob of moisture towards Colorado that will impact the area today and tonight. Clouds will be on the increase this morning as the moisture builds. Along with the southwest moisture, a shortwave disturbance will push through the northern part of Colorado during the second part of the day helping to produce accumulating snowfall. Snow totals over the next 36 hours look to be minimal but maybe just enough to improve surface conditions.

A short period of drier weather will develop during the second part of Thursday through Friday morning before a stronger and wetter system arrives in Colorado. A healthy stream of moisture is associated with this weather maker, but the bullseye will likely be over the San Juan Mountains. Look for better details and snow totals tomorrow morning. Keep your fingers crossed for a powder day this weekend.

• Today

  High Temperature: 35 to 39
  Winds/Direction: 8-18/WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 21 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 8-18/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 35 to 39
  Winds/Direction: 6-16/W
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-1″
  Elkton Snow: 0-1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-1″

Date: 03/10/2020

A large cutoff low continues to slowly churn off the coast of California which will push moisture into our region today. A separate shortwave trough will move through the northern and central mountains today, interacting with this moisture and giving us another shot of snowfall. Amounts look to be less than 5″ which will provide a nice refresh to our snowpack. Overnight snowfall will taper off but clouds will stick around as moisture continues to move through in WSW flow.

On Wednesday, the cut off low slowly moves onshore feeding moisture into the region with light snow showers ramping back up. Temperatures will be warm with the Pacific moisture so accumulations are again expected to be light but provide a nice refresh.

• Today

  High Temperature: 30 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WSW G25
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
  Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 10 WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1″
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 32 to 37
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 10 WSW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3″
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 2″