Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Wednesday night

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Southwest winds will increase tonight into early Thursday ahead of a blustery cold front currently timed to cross the area around mid-afternoon. Gusty west winds and a period of intense snowfall lasting several hours around and behind the front will create areas of blowing snow and possibly difficult travel conditions.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy with lows in the 20’s.

Thursday: Gusty southwest winds 20-30 mph with possible rain or mixed rain/snow showers in the valleys and snow showers on the hill ahead of the cold front moving across the area around mid-afternoon. Highs around 40 before the cold front passes, with a period of possibly intense snowfall, blowing snow and gusty west winds to 35 mph in the valleys and 50 mph on the mountain during and after frontal passage.

Thursday night: Low temperatures in the teens with snow likely before midnight. Accumulations around an inch in the valleys and enough snow on the hill to produce 3-6” for the Friday morning ski report.