Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Wednesday night
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
The last storm of this storm cycle is moving east of our area, bringing some cold air and dry conditions for the rest of the week before another Pacific storm threatens our area by late Saturday or early Sunday. Mountain slopes will warm for Friday and Saturday while valleys start the day cold as temperature inversions form.
Wednesday night: Snow showers will end this evening for the valleys with under an inch in Craig, around an inch or possibly two in Steamboat and 2-4” for the mountain leaving 5-10” for the Thursday morning ski report. Lows around zero in Craig with some fog possible, and around 10 in Steamboat.
Thursday: Becoming partly sunny during the day first in the valleys and then on the mountain. Highs in the teens in Craig and the mountain and near 20 in Steamboat, with patchy fog possible in the valleys early in the day.
Thursday night: Clear and very cold with lows in the minus teens around Craig and near zero in Steamboat.
Friday: Sunny and highs in the 20s in Craig with patchy fog in the morning. Highs around 30 in Steamboat and 20 on the mountain.
Friday night: Lows around -10 in Craig and 10 in Steamboat.
Snows ends by Thursday before starting up again late in the weekend
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.
Snows stop for a few days when this storm cycle ends early Thursday
We currently have heavy snow in Steamboat Springs as the last storm of this storm cycle passes over the area today and tonight. Intermittent moderate to heavy snows are expected today and tonight with breaks between the showers. Though the amount of water in the snow is forecast to diminish overnight, temperatures will drop and decrease the density of the snowfall, leaving 5-10” on the hill by tomorrow morning, with less in the valleys.
Snow will hold on longest tomorrow on Mount Werner before the sun makes an appearance. Temperatures will be quite cold overnight Thursday and into Friday morning under clear skies as temperature inversions reform in the wake of all the new snow and colder airmass.
A transient ridge moves over the area by Friday, noticeably warming temperatures at the higher elevations while the valleys stay cool after a cold morning start. Temperatures should stay warm on the hill for Saturday as the valleys warm further.
Another complex Pacific storm is forecast to cross the West Coast early in the weekend and will affect our weather by Saturday night or Sunday morning, creating moderate to sometimes heavy snows for Sunday. This storm is forecast to drag down some more cold air from the Canadian Plains, keeping lighter intensity but lower density snow around for Monday.
Tuesday is currently looking to be precipitation-free before a weak grazing wave in northwest flow may produce some snow for Wednesday. Models indicate a break before a major storm may impact the last weekend of January.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
A two part storm will begin snow again tonight before eventually ending by Thursday morning. Clear weather follows for the end of the work week before a weekend storm approaches.
Tuesday night: Snow should start around midnight, with around an inch in Craig, 1-3” in Steamboat and 2-5” expected for the Wednesday morning ski report. Lows around 10.
Wednesday: Snow will taper off in the morning as the first part of the storm moves through, but increase again in the afternoon as the second stronger storm moves over the area Wednesday night. 1-3” of snow expected in Craig, 2-4” in Steamboat and 4-8” on the mountain with highs in the 20’s in the valleys and near 20 at mid-mountain.
Wednesday night: Temperatures will cool noticeably as snow ends in the valleys, with lows around zero in Craig, and single digits for Steamboat. Another 2-4” of very low-density snow will occur on the mountain which will produce a 6-12” 24-hour Thursday morning ski report.
Thursday: The sun will appear as lingering snow showers end in the morning for the valleys and the afternoon for the mountain. Highs around 20 in the valleys and teens for mid-mountain.
Thursday night: Clear and very cold as temperature inversions reform in the valleys. Lows in the minus teens for Craig and around zero for Steamboat.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast
Monday, January 18, 2016
Monday night: Snow starts up again this evening and lasts through early morning. Accumulations around 1-3” in Craig, 2-4” in Steamboat and 5-10” for the Steamboat ski area Tuesday morning report. Lows in the teens.
Tuesday: Snow ending in the morning and becoming partly sunny. Minimal further accumulations in Craig with maybe an inch in Steamboat and the mountain in the morning. Highs in the 20s.
Tuesday night: Light snow starts up again after midnight as the last storm in this cycle affects the area, leaving around an inch or two for the Wednesday morning ski report. Lows around 10.
Wednesday: Snow during the day, with around an inch in Craig, 1-3” in Steamboat and 2-5” on the hill. Highs in the 20’s in the valleys and around 20 at mid-mountain.
Wednesday night: Snow diminishing in the valleys but continuing on the mountain and cold. Lows around minus 10 in Craig and single digits in Steamboat, with 4-8” expected for the Thursday morning ski report.
