Date: 01/04/2015

Northwest flow has currently set up from the Pacific Northwest to Southern Rockies. This weather pattern will keep us with partly to mostly cloudy sky’s with chances of orographic snow for the next few days. This northwest flow generally favors the western portion of our area and will be the likely zone that sees additional snow during this period, though most available moister will stay north of our area. Closer to and east of CB there will be little chance of snow and drier conditions. This pattern currently looks to break down Wednesday as a high-pressure ridge moves in.

Date: 01/03/2015

A nearly stationary trough will usher in bits of moisture today moving in Northwest flow, reaching the central mountains around mid-morning. Expect moderate winds and snowfall rates with this impulse, and look for a quick 3-6″ of snow by this evening. Accurate forecasts of orographically enhanced snowfall are notoriously tough, and higher amounts are possible in those typical snow factories near Kebler and Schofield passes. Another similar wave of moisture rolls through Sunday, keeping chances for snow through the weekend.

Date: 01/02/2015

Temperatures will slowly rebound today under clear skies and light North winds, as a short-lived ridge of high pressure moves through the area. High clouds will begin to roll in this afternoon and evening ahead of our next snowmaker tomorrow. This storm looks to be quite similar to the little system we saw yesterday, with 3-6″ snow expected. Looking ahead, we will see more embedded moisture pushed our way in Northwest flow through Monday, before the high pressure sitting off the coast of California brings dry, sunny skies next week.

Date: 01/01/2015

The closed low pressure system is currently rotating across the Arizona/New Mexico border. It will push moisture, clouds, and modest snowfall into the Elk Mountains today under a Southerly flow. As the system moves east, we’ll see things dry out on Friday. On Saturday, a fast-moving shortwave will brush our mountains from the northwest, with some orographic showers especially in the favored northern and western parts of our forecast area

Date: 12/31/2014

It’s a chilly -8F in town this morning, but mountain temperatures will rebound nicely ahead of a closed low moving along the California coastline towards Arizona today. The San Juan mountains will catch most of the snowfall from this cyclone, but a couple inches of snow should begin accumulating in our mountains by New Year’s Day. As the system rotates east, we’ll see showers dwindle before we return to northwest flow through the weekend.

Date: 12/30/2014

Light snow and cold temperatures will continue today. A broad low-pressure trough is elongated across the southwest states, with an arctic airmass over Colorado. Winds remain mercifully light as the jet stream stays to our south. The arctic airmass moves east on Wednesday issuing out the cold temperatures. A closed low will begin moving across Arizona and New Mexico over the next few days, rotating moisture into southwestern Colorado under a South to Southeast flow. This pattern tends to be unfavorable for our mountains, but lets hope we see more than a few inches stack up by the end of New Year’s Day.

Date: 12/29/2014

A winter weather advisory was issued for our area. Last night we received light snowfall and are anticipating the snowfall to increase today. Northwest and southwest winds are converging along with a cold front and creating a band heavier snowfall in northern Colorado. This band will continue moving south today but the big question is weather all these things line up over the Elk Mountains as this system move south. If so, we’ll see the higher end of snow forecast numbers and if not, we’ll see continued light snowfall. The western portion of our zone should do ok either way with favorable orographics. We’ll see lingering snowfall on Tuesday as this weather system splits off to the south and shows some love for the San Juan Mountains. Wednesday will be drier with more weather anticipated on Thursday.

Date: 12/28/2014

The next storm to affect our area is moving in from the northwest today. This shortwave trough will bring snow and more cold artic air to northern Colorado this morning, before moving into our area and central Colorado this evening. Snowfall associated with this storm will be best tonight and Monday as additional shortwave energy continues to carve out a large trough over the Northern Rockies. Also, orographics will likely play a roll in the western portion of the Elk Mountains where we’ll see the highest snowfall amounts. Weather forecasters and us avalanche geeks are getting exited about this artic air and the potential for some vary low density powder.

Date: 12/27/2014

Our mountains will see dryer conditions today with mostly cloudy sky’s as the slow moving low pressure trough flattens and heads east. This evening and tomorrow winds will increase as another low pressure system drop south and begins affecting central Colorado Sunday evening. This system will likely only bring light snowfall to our area, but a better snowfall producer may be in store for the middle of next week.

Snow will continue through most the day before tapering off slowly as the bulk of the system moves onto the Eastern plains. Temperatures will plummet as the skies clear and the -32 degree cold core of the passing storm creates widespread temperature inversions. Westerly winds should remain in the 10-15mph range, limiting wind transport of the new fallen snow. Expect to see more storminess early next week, and unsettled weather into the new year.