Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast
Friday, January 15, 2016
Snow likely tonight with around an inch in the lower valley, 1-3 inches in Steamboat and more snow for the mountain, leaving 5-10” for the Saturday morning report. Temperatures in the single digits for the lower valley and around 10 elsewhere.
Snow should be diminishing during the day Saturday before increasing again in the early evening. Only around an inch during the day near Steamboat and several inches on the mountain are expected, with the sun possibly making an appearance in the afternoon, especially in the valleys. Highs around 20.
Periods of moderate to sometimes heavy snow are expected through Saturday night and into Sunday morning, especially at the higher elevations. 2-4” in the lower valley, 3-6” in Steamboat and 6-12” for the morning ski report.
Snow should taper off during the day Sunday, again with some late afternoon sun possible. Another 1-3” for Steamboat and 2-4” for the mountain. Highs in the 20s for the valleys and teens for the mountain.
Dry but possible cloudy for Sunday night with lows around 20 in the lower valley and teens elsewhere.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast
Thursday, January 14, 2016
.TONIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW in Hayden, but snowfall likely in Steamboat with around an inch. LOWS in the single digits for Steamboat and around zero for Craig.
.FRIDAY…SNOW LIKELY, especially in the afternoon, with ACCUMULATIONS 1 TO 3 INCHES in the Steamboat area and less in Craig. HIGHS around 20 with WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW in Hayden, but another 1 to 3 inches likely in Steamboat. LOWS in the single digits with WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 20 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS around 20. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS around 10 in Craig and teens in Steamboat. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.
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.
Stormy pattern returns tomorrow
The dry weather the past few days that led to the very cold valley temperatures will end tomorrow as a quick-moving storm from the Pacific Northwest moves over the Steamboat Springs area. Ironically, the approach of the cold front will warm the surface and eliminate the current temperature inversion by increasing surface winds tonight and mixing the stagnant airmass. Periods of light to sometimes moderate snow start during the day tomorrow and continue overnight, leaving 2-5” for the Friday morning report.
Snows will diminish and perhaps even end very early Friday morning before a similar but stronger storm moves over our area later in the morning. Snowfall rates will be moderate to sometimes heavy during the afternoon Friday as this storm drags some cold air from the Canadian Plains southwards. A substantial part of the 5-10” I expect to be reported Saturday morning will occur Friday afternoon.
Snowfall will decrease during the day Saturday before increasing again early Sunday as a trailing wave drags a reinforcing surge of cold air over the area. Snowfall should diminish again during the afternoon and likely end by sunset, so the bulk of the snow I expect for the Monday report should occur Sunday morning.
Temperatures should warm on Monday as a transient ridge tries to build to our west, but the warming will be short-lived as another Pacific storm moves through the ridge and begins a round of light to sometimes moderate snows Monday night.
Snowfall is currently forecast to end around Tuesday before possibly the strongest storm in this series threatens significant snows starting around Wednesday. The forecast for then is uncertain with so much weather occurring over the next week, however.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast
.TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 10 TO 20 near Craig and 15 TO 25 in Steamboat.
.TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING…THEN MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH a CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS 10 BELOW ZERO TO 20 BELOW in Craig, but warmer in Steamboat with possible light winds and lows 0 to 10 below.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW, greater in the Steamboat. HIGHS 10 TO 20 in Craig and highs 15 to 25 in Steamboat. WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH in Craig, but gustier in Steamboat.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS 5 TO 15 in Craig and 0 to 10 above in Steamboat. WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 20 or 25 MPH IN THE EVENING BECOMING LIGHT.
.FRIDAY…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN SNOW LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATION 2 TO 4 INCHES. HIGHS 15 TO 25. CHANCE OF SNOW 60 PERCENT.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS ZERO TO 10 ABOVE in Craig, and 5 to 15 in Steamboat with a greater chance of snow.
