Date: 12/07/2015

Today’s weather will be similar to yesterday with strong valley inversions this morning, slowly easing as the day goes on. High clouds will filter into the area throughout the day as weak ripples in the jet stream bring high level moisture overhead and gusty winds at mountain top level. The weekend’s storm continues to evolve but continue to see model agreement that potential snowfall could range between 10-20” accompanied by strong winds. Each day, and each model run we will see details on timing and strength clarify, so stay tuned.

Date: 12/06/2015

Our orographic popcorn showers quickly ended shortly after sunset last night in the upper Gunnison River basin, and strong radiational cooling dropped our overnight lows in the valleys to near or below zero, while areas above 10000 feet sit in the 20s at 5am. Sunny skies will dominate today, but look for breezy conditions above treeline. With pretty good model agreement for the week ahead, we can all look forward to a pattern change and significant snow accumulations toward the end of the work week. Yes. The double “S” word…Significant snow… Bears some watching still, but looking promising.

Date: 12/05/2015

A fast moving trough and associated cold front are passing over the Elk Mountains this morning, bringing light snowfall and colder air in its wake. Winds are light out of the southwest early this morning, and will swing around to the northwest as this system passes, spurring additional orographic snowfall. A few more inches could accumulate by the afternoon. A short-lived ridge clears and dries out the atmosphere tonight, before zonal flow sets up next week, bringing a series of disturbances, the first of which arrives on Tuesday morning.

Date: 12/04/2015

We will see another mild day under warm, southwest flow before a fast moving Pacific trough arrives tonight. Light snowfall kicks off after midnight. We should see 1″ to 3″ before high pressure begins to rebuild on Saturday afternoon. Paradise Divide and Schofield Pass look to be favored for this system.

Date: 12/03/2015

We have a warm day in store, with mountain temperatures rising near and above freezing over eroding valley inversions. The axis of high pressure shifts to our east today, issuing in southwest flow ahead of the next system. A Pacific trough moves on shore tonight, but quickly loses its mojo by the time it arrives over Colorado on Friday night. Its looking like snow flurries at best to kick off the weekend.

Date: 12/02/2015

We are stuck under high pressure for the remainder of the work week, with a gradual warming trend, light winds, and mostly clear skies. There is enough moisture spilling in for high cloud formation this evening. The pattern changes on Saturday as a weak Pacific trough passes over Colorado on Saturday.

Date: 12/01/2015

After a final wave of snowfall worked its way through the Elk Mountains overnight, clouds will continue to clear out of the higher elevations, and winds will subside as high pressure moves overhead. Cold valley inversions will strengthen for the rest of the work week. An unimpressive disturbance toward the weekend may temporarily scour inversions and drop a few inches but nothing to fake a cough for…

Date: 11/30/2015

Our latest storm is just like the broncos. It just won’t quit. Or maybe its like a Broncos fan leaving the bar? This same wobbling low pressure system has been creating unsettled weather since last Thursday. Come this afternoon, it gets the boot into the upper Midwest. This exiting low pressure system will swing the winds to the northwest for one last shot of orogrpahics and cold air advection to wring the atmosphere over our high peaks from Kebler to Schofield passes for another few inches. Look for gusty winds near and above treelike to blow the new low density snow around, and bundle up. Windchills could be bitter.

Date: 11/29/2015

With the center of this low pressure centered over Evanston, WY, we will see continued southwest winds across the Elk Mountains, which tends not to be our prime orographic snow producing direction. Although southwest flow is not ideal, this low pressure has a -30ºC cold core, which will bring some enhanced snowfall in the form of cold air advection over the higher terrain through most of the day with a stronger pulse of snowfall this morning, before exiting our region this evening. High pressure moves in for most the work week before another evolving storm rattles into our area around Friday or Saturday.

Date: 11/28/2015

The cut-off low continues to hover over Utah, spinning weak energy and a chance for light snowfall into the Elk Mountains today. The system finally looks to exit towards the Great Plains on Sunday night, with increased snowfall into Monday. The rest of the week looks dry.