Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

**cmsummit** · 11-12-2010, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by spthomson

+1. It was very good and very fun today. Did 4 runs up in the bowl, only once did I nick the tops of two rocks - only superficial scratches to show for it - otherwise, just deep and quite light on top. Do you have an Al-mart sticker by chance on your skis? May have seen you in a ways ahead in the liftline...

S, solid work gettin' 4 laps in. Yeah, I have an Al-Mart sticker on the tip of my D-Senders.

**skiingislife** · 11-13-2010, 01:50 AM

There was good skiing to be had yesterday along the divide.

Looks like it's snowing again at the tunnel

**Rontele** · 11-13-2010, 06:18 PM

fireweather is bullish with its total through early Monday. 18-20 storm totals for Berthoud Pass/Tunnel, etc. Thinking a long-duration, low impact event.

This should really help the bc set up nicely.

**skiingislife** · 11-14-2010, 09:44 AM

That's HOT!

**raymonster** · 11-14-2010, 11:50 AM

^^^ No that's COOL!

**WTF is dat** · 11-14-2010, 02:19 PM

about 3-5 inches coming in tomorrow for most areas.

Will warm up slightly by wednesday/thursday but another small storm moves in saturday/sunday that should bring a few inches.

**dipstik** · 11-14-2010, 09:43 PM

The hike-to bowls at Breck were fun today. The snow was pretty sketch in some locations, but some nice pockets of fluff here and there. Kept having to remind myself that it was November. Overall a good way to spend the day.

**gratzo** · 11-15-2010, 01:21 AM

Fireweather is likely high everywhere, but perhaps not by much around the Steamboat backcountry. Had a friend skin up Steamboat Sun and said it was mid-winter conditions...and the heaviest snow comes tonight through Mon and again Tues PM.

This is a great pattern...throw this into Dec/Jan/Feb and it's a gold mine. The unsung hero of snow reports...3-5 days of 4-8" each day doesn't make the news but it does make us all happy. Perfecto. It's a snowpack building event right now....with some good pow skiing here and there likely outside resort boundaries or at yet-to-open resorts. WP opening on Wed could be fun if they have parts of the Jane open.

Snow takes a lull Tues, back up Tues night, and ends by sunrise Wed. Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat look pretty dry. Some more snow comes back Sun and then it looks cool/snowy for Thanksgiving week and perhaps beyond.

I hope this pattern doesn't switch around and leave us dry in Dec, but there's no sense worrying about that now. Live it up!

JOEL

PS - did you see the dude on the cell phone at Wolf Creek?
http://www.coloradopowderforecast.co...e-snow-report/

**montanaskier** · 11-15-2010, 07:26 AM

about 2" on the valley floor and snowing lightly this morning.

**Rontele** · 11-15-2010, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by gratzo

Fireweather is likely high everywhere, but perhaps not by much around the Steamboat backcountry. Had a friend skin up Steamboat Sun and said it was mid-winter conditions...and the heaviest snow comes tonight through Mon and again Tues PM.

This is a great pattern...throw this into Dec/Jan/Feb and it's a gold mine. The unsung hero of snow reports...3-5 days of 4-8" each day doesn't make the news but it does make us all happy. Perfecto. It's a snowpack building event right now....with some good pow skiing here and there likely outside resort boundaries or at yet-to-open resorts. WP opening on Wed could be fun if they have parts of the Jane open.

Snow takes a lull Tues, back up Tues night, and ends by sunrise Wed. Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat look pretty dry. Some more snow comes back Sun and then it looks cool/snowy for Thanksgiving week and perhaps beyond.

I hope this pattern doesn't switch around and leave us dry in Dec, but there's no sense worrying about that now. Live it up!

JOEL

PS - did you see the dude on the cell phone at Wolf Creek?
http://www.coloradopowderforecast.co...e-snow-report/

Yes. When I switch the forecast models to the ensemble, it lowers the snow totals a bit.

**GingerKidd** · 11-15-2010, 08:21 AM

about 2" on the valley floor and snowing lightly this morning.

Is that 2" in Eagle or Avon perhaps?

6-8" in Vail and Minturn.

**montanaskier** · 11-15-2010, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by GingerKidd

Is that 2" in Eagle or Avon perhaps?

6-8" in Vail and Minturn.

Eagle-Vail....and was actually about 4 or 5 when I took the dog out.

**PowTron** · 11-15-2010, 10:22 AM

Berthoud/WP area is even showing up to 11" or 12" or so on NOAA for today into tonight...the big story in my opinion is the WIND associated with that snow.

The windloading and coverage combined could be scary. Be careful, but let it SNOW!

**grskier** · 11-15-2010, 10:28 AM

1" ish on the car this morning... but Snowmass was socked in all night... guessing about 3" up there.

**montanaskier** · 11-15-2010, 10:29 AM

Hey Joel..is this pattern the pattern we'll see all winter or just a blip on the radar now. Meaning, have we settled into our winter type weather or will we return to long periods of dry before eventually getting everything cranked up for good?! We've had way more snow than I would have thought early on and as Rontele and others have said, these little storms have been great for building our snowpack.

**gratzo** · 11-15-2010, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by montanaskier

Hey Joel..is this pattern the pattern we'll see all winter or just a blip on the radar now. Meaning, have we settled into our winter type weather or will we return to long periods of dry before eventually getting everything cranked up for good?! We've had way more snow than I would have thought early on and as Rontele and others have said, these little storms have been great for building our snowpack.

Wish I knew...I need to consult a great long-range forecaster I know and will get back to ya.

**Rontele** · 11-15-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by montanaskier

Hey Joel..is this pattern the pattern we'll see all winter or just a blip on the radar now. Meaning, have we settled into our winter type weather or will we return to long periods of dry before eventually getting everything cranked up for good?! We've had way more snow than I would have thought early on and as Rontele and others have said, these little storms have been great for building our snowpack.

My guess is that we have entered into our La Nina pattern. Especially after this weekend when there is an omega block set up in the Gulf of AK with a persistent NW flow...

This is just reading tea leaves, however. No basis for support whatsoever.

**PowTrees** · 11-15-2010, 12:10 PM

Measured 6" of blower in my driveway in W Vail, about ~8,000'. Still snowing lightly, but looks like it's blowing harder up high. Downvalley it was snowing less and less, but drive through dowd junction and it's Narnia. Would be surprised if there wasn't a foot or more at PHQ. If this keeps up, there will be a decent base when the chairlifts open Friday.

**montanaskier** · 11-15-2010, 12:24 PM

good to hear D.

Vail should have a good opening on Friday...best in a few years.

gunit130 · 11-15-2010, 01:39 PM

I should be getting a report soon from a patrol buddy of mine at Vail.

I'd expect most of the top mtn to be open. Looking for definitely chair 2, 4, probably 3 as well. Outside chance of 11 & 14 if they have the staffing, but I doubt they do.

**funkendrenchman** · 11-15-2010, 01:43 PM

Well we got our 4-8" here. Looking forward to the opener next week.

**Spyplane** · 11-15-2010, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by gratzo

PS - did you see the dude on the cell phone at Wolf Creek?
http://www.coloradopowderforecast.co...e-snow-report/

What is really sad is THAT was the picture shown during the snow report on 9news last night! Pathetic.

**JerseyPowder** · 11-15-2010, 04:37 PM

just back from breck. after only having four o'clock open halfway to the top of horseshoe for hiking yesterday, they opened it all the way again today. on my second lap, hit cucumber... a few bony/bomb strewn turns and then blower thigh-deep. CMS- to answer your question, yes, i'm happy with today's 8"