A warm and sunny Saturday meant it was time to grill at the top of Vail and enjoy the sun. But more southern snow is on the way for Sunday.
Here’s a quick update to get everyone out of “Spring mode” and back into the hunt for powder. Saturday was all about enjoying the warm, 40-degree temps. Some people grilled in between runs (pictured above), and some people chose to enjoy the day by streaking at the top of a prominent Eagle County resort (witnessed, but not pictured…it must have been a little chilly outside).
Like the rest of the year, southern Colorado will get the deepest snow out of the next storm, while the rest of the state sees only a few inches. But another storm is in the wings for Tuesday/Wednesday…
Antique Forecast (Text)
- Sunday: Heavy snow, especially in the afternoon, for Durango, Silverton, and Wolf Creek with total accumulation of 6-12 inches…maybe a bit more if a few heavier snow squalls hit. North of this area (the rest of the state) will see only a few inches, up to 4″ in lucky areas, later in the day. The eastern mountains (Abasin, Loveland, Winter Park) might get a better shot of snow on Sunday night, but this is very uncertain.
- Monday: Light snow remains for the northern half of the state (north of Aspen), but I don’t see more than a few random inches falling, with the sun peeking out.
- Tuesday: Partly cloudy, with snow moving in later in the day. Snow will come down for most of the mountains overnight.
- Wednesday: Hoping for 3-6″ from this storm on the AM report, but the weather models are not very certain about this. Snow could continue lightly through the day.
- Thursday: Clouds and a bit of snow could hang on, but not much additional accumulation.
- Friday: Sun returns!
Weather Insight
Here is a view of the Sunday/Monday storm coming into southern California, about to cross into New Mexico and the Oklahoma Panhandle. This will push moisture (= snow!) into southern Colorado.
The storm off of Southern California (as of Saturday night) will move across New Mexico and bring the heaviest snow to southern Colorado.
Thanks for the update. There’s powder out there, but not as much as I would like.
What do you think Joel is the pattern just going to be more of the same? Or is it going to be too little or too late for the northern/central resorts this year.
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Joel Gratz Reply:
March 6th, 2010 at 9:22 PM
On and off goodness for the next week. Then…too early to tell. It’ll be hard to get back to average yearly snowfall for the northern mtns, though.
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Joel,
What would it take to get that huge trough of sub-tropical running through Mexico and Texas to bump north this time of year. I hope I am correct in assuming that is the Sub Tropical? Your thoughts.
JM
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Joel Gratz Reply:
March 6th, 2010 at 9:25 PM
Yup … that’s the sub-tropical jet at the bottom of the satellite image. To pull that north would take a deeper, slower, and more negatively tilted trough (oriented NW to SE). This storm was hinting at slowing and deepening, but it’ll probably be too little too late. But there’s plenty more time this spring to get some bigger, slower storms. Thanks for asking!
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Any chance we can get the link to the GOES close-up. Can’t seem to find it. Want it in my favs
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rb Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 3:56 PM
google ramsdis. you will find what you need. 4km water vapor or thermal is good. thermals better imo for smaller disturbances.
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The radar map moves on the iPhone! Sick! Magic!
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Joel – Do you have any drought prognostications for us skier/wildland firefighter types as the one season winds down and our fire season starts?
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Joel Gratz Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 12:10 AM
Sorry…I’m not an expert on wildfire predictions! Hope you get some work but that the fires are mostly rural…
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Do you think we will get enough snow to balance out the snow year on the front range? We are already almost a quarter of the way through our snowiest month, but the totals have not been great yet. I’m starting to get worried about this spring (as well as river and reservoir levels for the summer).
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Joel Gratz Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Good question. I’m not terribly optimistic. This storm (Sun/Mon) could have been a good one for snow/water on the front range, but it’s just a bit too far east. I don’t see another chance for a big storm in the next 1-2 weeks…
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I am skiing Vail powder cats this weekend….Saturday. My first time skiing off a resort. I’m extremley excited about it…but really dont know what to expect. Anyone on here gone skiing through them on Vail Pass? What can I expect conditions to be like? Id assume with the lack of people up there, I can expect some awesome untouched lines?
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Joel Gratz Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 1:28 PM
Vail Pass skied great two weeks ago when I was up there, and after a more active (than expected) week of snow, your Saturday trip should be fun. Most of the terrain is very mellow and fun – just a really good time, and it should be sunny with plenty of fresh pow from the week. Let us know how it is!
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How is vail looking for this weekend. Looks to be drying out end of this week. Thanks for your insight.
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