Date: 02/13/2015

Today, look for mostly clear skies, light winds, and temperatures pushing 40 degrees.

The Baja Low has re-established itself over, well, Baja once again…and that damn high pressure has strengthen over the western half of the United States…again. But…there is a war being waged in the Gulf of Alaska, as a firehose of Pacific moisture is bombarding the dome of high pressure and something has to give eventually. Early next week..the good guys finally prevail, and moisture begins to sneak its way into the Great Basin, along with colder temperatures. This may be the beginning of a larger scale pattern change…but we’ll humbly oblige with a few inches of snow to get things going around Tuesday.

Date: 02/12/2015

About this date last year my back blew out from shoveling out from our 10-day huge storm. This year, my back is only slightly irritated from the sunburns from lounging on my deck. Its little things like this we can be thankful for as high pressure takes hold through the rest of the week, bringing a few clouds and slightly cooler temperatures than we’ve grown accustomed to. Don’t give up hope though, because models are agreeing on a return to active, winter weather around Sunday or Monday. Better late than never, February.

Date: 02/11/2015

If you are looking for fresh powder, Monarch got 7″ and it is still snowing there. Drive east. The trough responsible for this snowfall is pushing south across the eastern part of the state, bringing upslope snowfall but leaving our Elk Mountains on the leeward and dry side of the storm. Mild and generally dry conditions will accompany the high pressure that builds into the Great Basin and over Colorado through the rest of the week.

Date: 02/10/2015

A band of moisture and a cool front is moving southward from Northern Colorado early this morning. As it passes over the Elk Mountain, we will hopefully see an inch or two or snow, but there could be convective component that brings localized heavier showers. The NOAA discussion this morning mentioned the threat of an isolated lightning strike. As if we don’t have enough concerns to deal with this time of year in the mountains. The trough retreats and closes off to our southwest on Wednesday, bringing upslope dynamics to our east and a faint chance for some light spill-over snowfall. High pressure returns under dry northwest flow for the remainder of the week, bringing back warmer than normal temperatures.

Date: 02/09/2015

The blocking ridge of high pressure that is responsible for the dry weather pattern we’ve been in is under attack by two small weather systems that will bring a change in weather for us mid week. This evening a weak trough will work its way into northern Colorado and bring us light accumulations on Tuesday. Then another system will dig further south into Colorado Tuesday evening or Wednesday. This 2nd system looks a little better but will be strongest to our east along the Continental Divide. Later in the weak the blocking ridge looks to rebuild, putting us back under dry northwest flow.

Date: 02/08/2015

The blocking ridge of high pressure appears to continue through this week. Keeping the storm track to our north and leaving most of Colorado dry. There will be a few small disturbances that move through during this period, bringing increased cloudiness and a chance for small accumulations of snow. We’d like to say 0-14” of snow during these shortwaves, but unfortunately our confidences is highest at the 0” level. This morning clouds should be clearing with continued mild temperatures. These shorwaves will arrive Monday morning and again on Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday.

Date: 02/07/2015

Another warm one in store today, with in increase of high cloudiness this afternoon as a weakening disturbance crosses extreme northern Colorado tonight. The northernmost portion of our forecast area may sneak a few flurries, but any snow shouldn’t amount to much. Our depressing pattern of high pressure looks to reinforce itself once again after a weakening midweek storm clips the central mountains…

Date: 02/06/2015

Now this is getting weird…another day of near record warmth for most of Colorado, and the normally frigid Gunnison valley is no exception. High temperatures today will soar into the 50s today with light westerly winds and thin cirrus will enhance that solar intensity. Temperatures will cool tomorrow a bit ahead of a weakening push of Pacific moisture that may spur a few orographic snow showers late Saturday afternoon and evening. Otherwise…our next chance for significant snow is next week.

Date: 02/05/2015

Some high cirrus clouds will stick around this morning as high pressure develops and drier air moves into the region. We will return to unseasonably warm temperatures again over the next two days, A series of Pacific waves will break down the ridge starting Friday night, bringing cooler temperatures and a chance for light snowfall.

Date: 02/04/2015

The Steamboat area is the only part of the state that caught snowfall last night. Unfortunately, the last few model runs have trended today’s snowfall further north with smaller accumulations for the Elk Mountains compared to yesterday’s models. With plenty of Pacific moisture being channeled into the northern part of the state under a northwest flow and improved dynamics arriving mid-morning, we could still pick up a few inches today in the favored parts of the zone around Paradise Divide and Schofield Pass. High pressure builds Thursday bringing dry and mild conditions through Friday.