Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Thursday night
Thursday, March 31, 2016
After a chilly start Friday, residual moisture behind the departing storm will keep a mix of clouds and sun over our area for Friday as a sharp ridge over the West Coast flattens and elongates over the Great Basin. Snow showers with no or minimal accumulations will be most likely over the mountain on Friday, especially in the afternoon.
There will be more sun for Saturday as temperatures warm, especially in the valleys, before a wave traveling over the top of the ridge brings some clouds and perhaps isolated showers to our area on Sunday.
Monday looks to be similar to Sunday but warmer, before the next Pacific Northwest storm threatens our area beginning Tuesday.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Wednesday night
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Snows will mostly end for tonight as we are between the departing storm to our east and an approaching wave from the north, with only another inch or so on the hill overnight.
After tonight, the last wave in this storm cycle drags some cold Canadian Plains air over the area early Thursday morning with snow continuing through most of the daytime hours. Low-density snow accumulations of around an inch in the valleys and 2-5” on the mountain are expected before snows taper off during Thursday night.
After a chilly start Friday, residual moisture will keep a mix of clouds and sun over our area from Friday through the weekend with warming temperatures expected as soon as Friday afternoon.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Tuesday night
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
The cold front associated with the splitting Pacific storm moved through the area this afternoon with snowfall rates as high as 3” / hour for a time. The base of the mountain received about 3” of snow between 4:30 and 6:30 pm, while the Powdercam indicated almost 5” at the top of Sunshine Peak behind Patrol Headquarters.
Much lighter snow showers will continue tonight with another inch in the valleys and perhaps several inches on the hill leaving a 4-8” morning ski report.
The NAM model referred to in yesterday’s forecast has now been joined by the AVN in keeping the storm far enough south that snow will likely redevelop tomorrow in the TROWAL located in the northwest quadrant of the storm. This will bring light to moderate snow to the valleys as well as the hill, leaving another 1-3” in the valleys and 4-8” on the mountain, which will be reported Thursday morning.
The last wave in this storm cycle drags some cold Canadian Plains air over the area on Thursday, with minimal accumulations in the valleys but 2-5” of low-density powder during the day on the mountain.
Residual moisture will keep a mix of clouds and sun over our area from Friday through the weekend with warming temperatures expected by mid-weekend.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Monday night
Monday, March 28, 2016
Continued clouds overnight will keep temperatures warm ahead a Pacific storm that is currently in the Great Basin.
The storm elongates to the east Tuesday and eventually splits, with the eastern part of the split bringing breezy southwest winds with rain showers in the valleys and snow showers above 9000′ starting as soon as the morning. There may be accumulations at the higher elevations of around an inch or two during the day.
Snow levels will fall to the valley bottoms when storm moves over the area and the cold front passes, currently timed for Tuesday afternoon or evening but likely to change as we get closer to the event. There will likely be a relatively short period of heavy snows and gusty winds during frontal passage, with even some thunder possible, leading to reduced visibilities and difficult travel. Light snow showers will continue overnight before more favorable north-northwest flow develops behind the departing storm on Wednesday morning and increases snowfall rates during the day.
Snowfall amounts are uncertain due the splitting storm, but current forecasts indicate around an inch in Craig by Wednesday morning, with 1-3” in Steamboat and 3-6” on the mountain. While the valleys will likely continue with non-accumulating snows during the day Wednesday, the mountain may see an additional 2-4” leaving 5-10” between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. However, the NAM model is further south with the track of the storm, and if that model verifies, I would expect more snow during Wednesday both on the hill and in the valleys.
There may be a break in snowfall late Wednesday into early Thursday before another promising wave passing over the area from the north will bring a surge of cold air from the Canadian Plains and a final round of snows to end the work week.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Sunday night
Sunday, March 27, 2016
The next storm currently moving south along the West coast today will bring breezy southwest winds to the area tomorrow and clouds by later Monday after a nice start to the day. Continued clouds overnight will keep temperatures warm.
Tuesday will be a transition day as the storm elongates to the east across the Great Basin and eventually splits, with the eastern part of the split bringing rain showers in the valleys and snow showers on the hill starting as soon as the morning.
Snow levels will fall to the valley bottoms when storm moves over the area and the cold front passes, currently timed for Tuesday afternoon or evening but likely to change as we get closer to the event. Light snow showers will continue overnight before more favorable north-northwest flow develops behind the departing storm on Wednesday morning and increases snowfall rates during the day.
Snowfall amounts are uncertain due the splitting storm, but current forecasts indicate around an inch in Craig by Wednesday morning, with 1-3” in Steamboat and 3-6” on the mountain. While the valleys will likely continue with non-accumulating snows during the day Wednesday, the mountain may see an additional 2-4” leaving 5-10” between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
There may be a break in snowfall late Wednesday into Thursday before another wave passing over the area from the north will bring a surge of cold air from the Canadian Plains and a final round of snows to end the work week.
