Date: 01/06/2016

A very moist system is circulating through Arizona, pushing precipitation northward into Colorado this morning under southwesterly flow. The brunt of snowfall with this first system arrives to our mountains this afternoon and tonight. Without jet support, our mountains rarely do well under warm southwest flow. We should squeeze out at least a few inches, upwards of 8″ or so if we get lucky by tomorrow morning. The next system is moving onshore over California this morning. We’ll see a lull in action on Thursday before it moves over Colorado bringing more snow on Friday. Snowfall amounts don’t look too exciting at this point as the bullseye of this second pulse also stays to our south.

Date: 01/05/2016

Yesterday, temperatures above 9,000ft soared into the low 30s, under gradually increasing clouds and very light southerly winds. Today, we will see the southerly disturbance continue to bring cloud cover and greater chances for accumulating snowfall across higher terrain today, but no significant totals until a reinforcing shortwave works across our area tomorrow afternoon into Thursday. Snow totals from this storm look to give the higher peaks 8-12” by Friday, under light southerly wind.

Date: 01/04/2016

Temperatures have slowly moderated from our frigid overnight lows on Friday. High clouds from weak systems to our southwest will continue to move into our area and we may see some light accumulations over the next few days as the atmosphere settles into a more “classic” El Nino setup. Ridging will build over the great basin over the week and push moisture closer to the Mexico border. No big headliner storms on tap, but we look to sneak 3-6” over the next few days if all goes well.

Date: 01/03/2016

The gradual warming trend has continued with low temperatures at 10,000ft in the low 20s and valley lows around -15 to -20. Today’s highs and lows will continue be a few degrees warmer. High thin clouds will build again today. Heading into next week our weather will continue to be cloudy with a little snow here and there. Snowfall accumulation is looking a slightly better on Thursday but we’ll have to wait for details to come.

Date: 01/02/2016

-25*F in Crested Butte this morning feels downright balmy compared to yesterday morning, and strong inversions are in place with most mountain temperatures hovering in the teens. A closed low to our west will direct enough moisture into our region for some mid to upper level clouds this weekend. As that low migrates north, it open the doors to warm, southwest flow, warming mountain temperatures into the upper 20’s or low 30’s by Sunday. A series of Pacific troughs bring back unsettled weather next week, although the brunt of precipitation stays to our south with these storms.

Date: 01/01/2016

2016 is off to a cold start. Temperatures in town are a frigid -30*F, while mountain stations are showing -10 to 0. January is typically a dry month during El Nino winters, and this month looks to start off on cue for that. The broad, exiting trough closes off over the West Coast and a high pressure ridge establishes over the Central Rockies through the weekend. This will bring a warming trend to the mountains and strengthening valley inversions. The storm track will be split around the Western US next week, with a series of troughs passing to our south. At this point, it looks like the Elk Mountains won’t get tickets to the show, but we might catch a lyric or two from outside the venue.

Date: 12/31/2015

The arctic airmass remains in place over most of the West. Mountain temperatures are hovering just above zero this morning, and may not crest single digits today. The last in a series of weak shortwaves will generate another inch or few this morning before skies clear and we ring in the New Year with subzero temps. We’ll see a warming and drying trend going into the weekend under weak high pressure.

Date: 12/30/2015

A broad trough is stretched across the western half of the country, centered to our south. This is feeding cold, arctic air into the state. Shallow moisture arrives under a weak shortwave today, bringing light snowfall to the Elk Mountains. Another shortwave moves overhead tonight, with additional flurries and reinforcing cold air. The western edge of our forecast area could see upwards of 6″ or 8″ out of this disturbance, with an inch or two on tap for the mountains near and east of town.

Date: 12/29/2015

Light snow showers over the high peaks of the Elk Mountains began late yesterday afternoon and will continue through the morning today before tapering off as the jet dynamics move farther southwest. Minor disturbances will wash over Colorado tonight through Thursday, bringing occasional hits of light snow and upticks in westerly winds, before the last disturbance in the flow forms a closed low and finally allows the pesky high pressure to take hold of the western United States. Expect no more than a few inches of new snow by New Years Eve.

Date: 12/28/2015

Another classic mid winter inversion this morning with temperatures in Gunnison down in the basement at -26ºF while stations at 11 and 12,000ft sit at around 15ºF above zero. Clear skies and plenty of sunshine will make the day seem warmer. Light southwest winds near ridgetop will keep the picnics brief, as high clouds begin to stream in this afternoon ahead of our weak storm for Tuesday night. Looking ahead, the dreaded Rex Block of high pressure is delayed with a series of weak shortwave pulses of moisture caught in a steady northwest flow aloft.