Last wave in this storm cycle timed for tonight
Thursday, February 4, 2016
A fast-moving wave in northwest flow will cross the Steamboat Springs tonight, leaving 3-6” for the Friday morning ski report. Snow will end first in the valleys but linger longest on the mountain where an additional inch of two may fall before being followed by partly sunny skies for the afternoon.
Saturday will be snow-free with brief ridging before another wave in northwest flow passes mostly north and east of us, increasing the likelihood of snow showers for Saturday night into Sunday morning and dragging some cool air over our area for Sunday.
Sunny skies and warming temperatures, especially at higher elevations, will begin by Tuesday and last the rest of the work week as the large West Coast ridge builds over the Great Basin. Valleys will have cold morning starts as temperature inversions reform under clear nighttime skies.
Two major storms for the upcoming week
Thursday, January 28, 2016
A wet and relatively warm Pacific jet stream will bring increasing winds and moisture to the Steamboat Springs area starting Friday night. Temperatures will warm and precipitation may be mixed in the valleys Friday night and early Saturday before the cold front is forecast to sweep through the area early Saturday, changing any rain to snow and increasing snowfall rates.
The timing of the cold front will determine how much snow falls during the day versus overnight Saturday, but 7-14” of snow is expected at the Steamboat ski area for the Sunday morning report.
A brief break is then advertised for Sunday ahead of a large, complex and potentially dangerous storm crossing the West Coast late in the weekend. This storm will intensify as it crosses the Great Basin as very cold air from the Canadian Plains mixes with the relatively warm and wet overrunning Pacific jet stream.
Current forecasts have moderate to likely heavy snow going by Monday afternoon and continuing into Tuesday as very cold air invades the area, creating travel issues both in the mountains and the plains. Additional waves of energy and cold air move over the area in northwest flow later Tuesday and Wednesday, keeping low-density snows going through possibly Thursday morning.
Snows ends by Thursday before starting up again late in the weekend
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
This is a summary of the detailed weather discussion.
The last wave in the storm cycle passes over the area this afternoon and tonight, ending snows by tomorrow morning as the sun makes an appearance for Thursday. Very cold valley temperatures will be observed by Friday as temperature inversions reform, though the upper elevations will warm noticeably by Friday and stay warm for Saturday.
Another storm is forecast for late Saturday or early Sunday, and is forecast to keep snow going through Monday before ending by late Monday night or very early Tuesday morning. Tuesday should be dry before a grazing wave in northwest flow brings a chance of snow back for Wednesday.
A break in inclement weather is then expected before a possibly large and complex storm threatens our weather for the last weekend in January.
A week of snows ahead
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
The current tranquil weather ends tomorrow as a series of Pacific storms moves over the Steamboat Springs area through at least the next week. Some of these storms will also mix with some very cold air from the Canadian Plains, creating almost ideal conditions for snowfall.
Snowfall may continue through most of the next week, with only brief snow-free periods between the storms. Right now, the advertised Pacific wave train will bring periods of enhanced snowfall Thursday and Friday afternoons, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. The first storm on Thursday should be the weakest and the storm on Wednesday possibly the strongest, and that storm may continue through the rest of next week.
Snowfall totals on the hill over the next week should be impressive and could be in the two to three foot range if all the waves move over the area as currently predicted. Valleys will see less, but still significant snowfall.
