Date: 02/08/2020

Yesterday’s storm has shifted to the eastern plains this morning, leaving cold northwest flow in its wake. The highest peaks of the Ruby Range and Elk Mountains may see some lingering light snow showers but should generally be a quieter, sunnier day before the next round of snowfall develops tonight as another cold front drops into Colorado from the north, bringing 2-6” snow overnight. West winds today will start in the 10-20mph range at treeline, but increase midday through this evening into 30-40mph territory. Sunday and into next week looks unsettled, mostly cloudy, with spotty snow showers and light accumulations until about Wednesday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 20 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 15-25 G40/WNW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-1″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10 to 25
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 2-4″
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 15 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 5-15/WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

Date: 02/07/2020

Overnight, temperatures at all stations climbed steadily throughout the night as westerly winds cranked in the 30-50mph range. Some area locations have warmed over 35 degrees since Wednesday evening. A large plume of deep Pacific moisture will continue to be pushed into the central Colorado mountains. This moisture will produce an additional 6-12” of snow into Saturday morning. Saturday morning should see partial clearing on all but the highest peaks of the Elk Mountains, before a secondary wave of moisture is showing potential in latest model runs to spur additional accumulating snowfall into early next week potentially. Bottomline, expect continued snowfall and westerly winds to continue today, through most of weekend. Stay tuned for additional updates as this complex winter weather system unfolds.

• Today

  High Temperature: 15 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 15-25 G40/WNW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 4-8″
  Elkton Snow: 3-6″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 2-5″

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 10 to 15
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WNW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 2-4″
  Elkton Snow: 1-3″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1-3″

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 15 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 15-25/NW
  Sky Cover: Decreasing clouds
  Irwin Snow: 0-2″
  Elkton Snow: 0-2″
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0-2″

Date: 02/06/2020

The Great Northern Pineapple is arriving. A huge arc of moister is streaming from near Hawaii, up to the Northwestern US, then down through Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and finally Colorado. That moisture is on quite the journey and will be turning into lots of snowflakes over the next 48 hours. This looks to be a significant winter storm. The jet stream will be overhead and helping create an unstable atmosphere for snow production, but the largest snow totals are going to be from Oragraphics. So this Northwest to West-Northwest flow is going to favor the Kebler Pass and Paradise Divide. We’ll see snow numbers stacking up later today with the peek precipitation looking to be late-Thursday into Friday.

Alpine winds are going to be cranking during this entire storm. Upper elevation wind gusts will be hitting the 60’s on Thursday and further increasing into the 70’s and 80’s Thursday night into Friday. Those winds will mix down into the valleys and create blizzard conditions as well late Thursday into Friday.

Late Friday starts to dry out and clearing weather continues into Saturday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25 G50/WNW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 5 to 7
  Elkton Snow: 4 to 6
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 4 to 6

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 12 to 16
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25 G60/NW
  Sky Cover:
  Irwin Snow: 10 to 15
  Elkton Snow: 10 to 15
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 5 to 8

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 20 to 24
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25 G60/WNW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 12 to 17
  Elkton Snow: 10 to 15
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 5 to 8

Date: 02/05/2020

Last night we had cold northerly flow plus clear skys adding additional radial cooling. That all adds up to low temperatures near -25 in the coldest valleys and negative teens in the mountains. We are currently tucked inside a low-pressure trough with some nice calm conditions. Generally light winds should continue for most of Wednesday with some partly cloudy sky developing.

Winds start ramping up Wednesday night as we land in the sights of the next storm. An Atmospheric River of moisture currently slamming into the NW United States, will start nosing into Colorado. That moisture feed is going to stay over the area from early Thursday morning through Friday. This event will begin with northerly flow and eventually become west-northwest flow by Friday. Strong upper-level winds and periods of high precipitation rates will create a legitimate winter storm.

Total water amounts with this storm look to be 1.2 to 2 inches. Big money, the favorable origrafics for Kebler Pass and Paradise Divide will help exceed those numbers. So we expect to measure the total snow amounts with our feet, and not those inches between your knuckles.

• Today

  High Temperature: 8 to 12
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18/NW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -3 to 1
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20/NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 18 to 22
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25/G50 WNW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 5 to 7
  Elkton Snow: 4 to 6
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 4 to 6

Date: 02/04/2020

Yesterday’s storm came in on cue at about noon and dropped 2 to 5 inches across the forecast area. Winds, however, remain elevated yesterday afternoon and last night blowing the new snow around from the southwest. The low-pressure system stalled yesterday with the trough axis currently overhead. As the trough finally passes by, winds will make the shift to a more northerly direction late today. Air temperatures are quite cold across the forecast area close to the 0 mark. For today, light snowfall will linger across the highest terrain but is expected to produce just a few more inches. Winds will remain elevated until the trough axis finally moves eastward.

The atmosphere will briefly dry out on Tuesday night and Wednesday before a more exciting system impacts the area on Wednesday evening through about Friday. A wet northwest flow will set-up over Colorado which looks to include a strong jetstream and an Atmospheric River. The model runs has been reasonably consistent the past two days and the ample available moisture is clear. This system may offer the potential for snow to be measured in feet for the favored areas to the west and north of Crested Butte…..but the picture will become clearer over the next 24 hours.

• Today

  High Temperature: 5 to 9
  Winds/Direction: 3 to 13, SE
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 1 to 3
  Elkton Snow: 1 to 3
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -9 to -5
  Winds/Direction: 3 to 13, N
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 8 to 12
  Winds/Direction: 8 to 18, NW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 02/03/2020

Today will start out with mild temperatures and gusty southwest winds. Cloud cover will continue to build early this morning ahead of the low-pressure system just to our west in Utah. Model runs continue to show modest snow accumulations with possibly a few short bursts of heavy snow during frontal passage. Snowfall totals today will range from 3 to 5 inches across the forecast area. Winds will be strong up high through the middle part of the day from the southwest but will relax once the flow turns to the northwest in the afternoon. Expect high temperatures to happen early in the day before the passage of the front. Snowfall will begin just before lunch and continue through about sunset. Snowfall after sunset will be light and favor areas in the Ruby range as the flow turns northwesterly.

Snowfall will linger into Tuesday under northwest flow but accumulations look light. Wednesday looks to be a dry day before a moist northwest flow sets up over Colorado for the second half of the week. This system might produce healthy accumulations for areas to the west and north of town that are best situated for northwest flow events from about Thursday through Saturday. Let’s all do a snow dance, cross our fingers and toes then maybe the system at the end of the week will provide a few legitimate powder days!

• Today

  High Temperature: 23 to 27
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, G50 SW transitioning to NW in afternoon
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 5
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 5
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 5

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: -4 to 0
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, WNW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 4 to 8
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, E
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

Date: 02/02/2020

Today looks to be the last day of mild and pleasant weather before an approaching trough begins to impact the area on Monday. The thin, high clouds from the past two days look to diminish which will allow high temperatures to reach well above seasonal norms today. Winds are expected to remain reasonable, blowing 10 to 20 mph, as they swing to the southwest before the next weather maker arrives.

Clouds will increase quickly on Monday and snowfall should start during the first half of the day for the Crested Butte area. Snowfall totals do not look impressive but a cold front passage midday will help to squeeze out the snow. Air temperatures look to drop throughout the day tomorrow to levels well below seasonal norms.

• Today

  High Temperature: 36 to 40
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 16 to 20
  Winds/Direction: 15 to 25 G40, SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 23 to 27
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, SW
  Sky Cover: Overcast
  Irwin Snow: 3 to 5
  Elkton Snow: 3 to 5
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 5

Date: 02/01/2020

The persistent northerly winds will slowly decrease today and shift more westerly this afternoon, as clear skies and above average temperatures push temperatures into the low to mid 30s this weekend, even above 12,000ft! Enjoy this brief February thaw, as an evolving storm is winding up over the Pacific and will track into our forecast area Monday, bringing a round of snow and much colder temperatures back to the area. Stay tuned for details, but looks like a decent refresh is in the cards.

• Today

  High Temperature: 32-37
  Winds/Direction: 20-30/WNW (decreasing during day)
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 15-20
  Winds/Direction: 10-20/WNW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 35-40
  Winds/Direction: 15-25/SW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/31/2020

A trace to 3” of snow accumulated yesterday afternoon into the early evening. While NW to NE wind-gusts jumped up as an upper-level jet is passing overhead. Those winds are looking to remain elevated today, with gusts into the 40-50mph range at upper elevations. There is a bit of moisture that will be dropping in on the northerly flow later today and we may see some increasing cloud cover during that time. By Saturday we will have made the transition and landed under the high-pressure ridge. Winds will see a big drop, the sky will be clear and we’ll be on an increasing temperature trend into Sunday with above-average temperatures. The weekend is going to be a nice one!

The next storm comes in the form of a large low-pressure trough making its way across the 4 Corners on Monday. That will land us in SW flow. We’ll have to wait another day to get some more details on that.

• Today

  High Temperature: 26 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20 G35, NW
  Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 8 to 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: 31 to 35
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, W
  Sky Cover: Clear
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Date: 01/30/2020

Well yesterday was a big swing and a miss. The moisture moved right around us even more than anticipated. We are now sitting under northerly flow with a little moisture and a small disturbance moving through today. Nothing exciting but we do have a small chance to see some flakes. Winds will increase late this afternoon and tonight as the upper-level jet moves overhead and we slide under a building high-pressure ridge. We still have some clouds moving through on Friday, before clear weather and an increasing temperature trend moves in for the weekend. The next storm looks to arrive around Monday.

• Today

  High Temperature: 24 to 28
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, NW
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tonight

  Low Temperature: 3 to 7
  Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, N
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0 to 1
  Elkton Snow: 0 to 1
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 1

• Tomorrow

  High Temperature: 26 to 30
  Winds/Direction: 5 to 15, N
  Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
  Irwin Snow: 0
  Elkton Snow: 0
  Friend’s Hut Snow: 0