Cold front first brings some snow tonight and then cold temperatures for the work week
Sunday, December 3, 2017
A strong cold front currently moving through Salt Lake City has brought southwest winds and clouds to the Steamboat Springs area this afternoon. The storm responsible for the front is forecast to split into several pieces, with the best moisture and forcing staying to our north. However, along with the much colder air, we will see precipitation with the storm through Monday night.
There may be some rain showers at the lower elevations and snow showers at higher elevations ahead of the front this evening, but snow levels will crash to the Yampa Valley floor when the front blasts through around midnight. There will be localized heavy and even intense snow showers with blowing snow along the front and for a few hours behind it, with several inches of fairly dense snow likely at the Steamboat Ski Area by the Monday morning report, and more further north and at higher elevations.
I spend a lot of time skiing and mountain biking, depending on the season, and these are some of the products that have worked very well for me. Consider purchasing them through these links as I will earn a small commission that will help me keep SnowAlarm running. And feel free to contact me if you would like to see your product endorsed.
I’ve used these from their beginnings, and can honestly say that each iteration of the product is better than the last. I have the S4 custom, attached to my powerstrap so they never fall off, and my toes stay warm for my entire ski day.
Hotronic’s Foot Warmers S Series are the culmination of years of experience in research, design, and testing. With thin profile, high capacity, cold-temperature-operation Battery Packs, the S Series are Hotronic’s most powerful yet compact Foot Warmer designs to date. Maintain comfort and warmth in your feet when it matters most, in the cold!
You may not know it, but you want progressive flex in your ski boots. This allows the tongue of the boot to maintain contact with your shin through all phases of the turn. Comfort and control with no sore shins!
The Booster Strap is made of high strength elastomeric webbing with an anti-slip micro-adjustable cam buckle. The elastomer allows flexibility, vibration and shock damping. The cam buckle assures a better fit and more comfort.
The Booster Strap elastically fastens together the leg and the ski boot and provides direct ski control so the skis will start turning sooner and will end the turn faster. The graded elasticity of the product allows skiers to choose the reaction speeds that best suit their technical and physical characteristics and skiing ability.
Snows will let up until picking back up again on a cold-feeling-but-near-average Monday morning as winds veer to our favorable northwest direction. While there is plenty of cold air aloft to keep the atmosphere unstable through Monday night, snows will turn more showery in the afternoon as moisture decreases. There may as much as 3-6” of very light and fluffy powder by the below-average and cold Tuesday morning report.
Snows will end by Tuesday morning as the storm moves east of Colorado. A very large and dominant West Coast ridge builds behind the storm, with warm and dry air to our west underneath the ridge, and cold and snowy weather to our east. Over Steamboat Springs, there may be some moderation in the temperatures on Wednesday before another push of cold air and possibly moisture travels southward along the east side of the West Coast ridge. At this point in the forecast, some light snow is possible along with colder temperatures and strong northerly winds on Thursday.
Winds may stay strong on Friday, though dry air infiltrates northern Colorado as the West Coast ridge expands eastward. Sunnier skies and warmer temperatures begin on Friday and look to last through next weekend. I’d like to say the West Coast ridge breaks down after than and brings the storm track back to Colorado, but current long-range forecasts keep the ridge intact through the following work week.
Cold front later Sunday brings some snow for early next week
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Ahead of a long-overdue storm that will begin affecting the Steamboat Springs area this weekend, more above normal daytime temperatures are expected. A sunny day today will be followed by a cool front that will graze northern Colorado on Friday, slightly lowering temperatures and increasing winds a bit.
Meanwhile a large storm in the Gulf of Alaska moves southeastward, crossing the central West Coast on Sunday. Winds will back to the southwest and moisture will increase bringing some clouds for Saturday in still above normal temperatures.
I spend a lot of time skiing and mountain biking, depending on the season, and these are some of the products that have worked very well for me. Consider purchasing them through these links as I will earn a small commission that will help me keep SnowAlarm running. And feel free to contact me if you would like to see your product endorsed.
I’ve used these from their beginnings, and can honestly say that each iteration of the product is better than the last. I have the S4 custom, attached to my powerstrap so they never fall off, and my toes stay warm for my entire ski day.
Hotronic’s Foot Warmers S Series are the culmination of years of experience in research, design, and testing. With thin profile, high capacity, cold-temperature-operation Battery Packs, the S Series are Hotronic’s most powerful yet compact Foot Warmer designs to date. Maintain comfort and warmth in your feet when it matters most, in the cold!
I’ve found these work best in powder, as it keeps the cold snow from touching the boot plastic and sucking heat away from the interior. However, they do cover the lowest two boot buckles, so this accessory is not for those who like to (or need to!) fiddle with the buckles during the day.
- Helps retain up to +20 degrees inside the boot
- Includes thermal reflective adhesive strips for additional insulation from inside the boot
- Adjustable Velcro heel strap for ease of use and adjustment
- Side abrasion resistant patches for durability and wear
- Wind and water resistant neoprene material
Rain showers at the lower elevations and snow showers at the higher elevations are possible by Sunday afternoon as some energy ejecting out of the storm travels over our area. Showers will turn to all snow when the cold front sweeps through the area Sunday night or Monday morning.
Numerical forecast models have struggled mightily with this storm, so there is even more uncertainty than usual for snow amounts early next week. We will have a better chance for accumulating snows as compared to the last 2 disappointing storms, with at least an inch or two likely for Monday through Tuesday, and possibly more if the storm tracks further south or west.
The forecast for cold air, however, has been far more consistent, with cooler temperatures hanging around through at least Tuesday.
Behind this storm, a building ridge of high pressure is forecast over the West Coast as this storm eventually mixes with some cold air from Canada and brings very cold temperatures to the eastern two thirds of the country. The Rocky Mountains will probably delineate the boundary between the warm and dry air under the western ridge and the much colder but still dry air to our east.
Our weather for next week will likely vacillate between warmer as the West Coast ridge expands eastward, and cooler as the West Coast ridge retreats westward. Right now, the forecast calls for some slight warming around midweek before a grazing storm may bring some more cold dry air over our area later Wednesday or Thursday.
The currently advertised eastward expansion of the West Coast ridge brings warming and more dry air to our area for the following weekend.
Some snow Monday night and later Wednesday
Sunday, November 26, 2017
The near-record temperatures expected for today in the Steamboat Springs area will stay for tomorrow ahead of a quick-moving storm that will bring a cold front through northern Colorado late Monday afternoon or early evening. Clouds and southwest winds will increase on Monday before snow showers begin and last through the night, with 1-4” of snow expected for the Tuesday morning snow report.
Though there will be plenty of sun behind the storm for Tuesday, the seasonable temperatures will feel cool compared to the recent near-record warmth.
I spend a lot of time skiing and mountain biking, depending on the season, and these are some of the products that have worked very well for me. Consider purchasing them through these links as I will earn a small commission that will help me keep SnowAlarm running. And feel free to contact me if you would like to see your product endorsed.
These gloves are all about warmth. And when combined with the standard HotHands handwamers which I use below about 5F, I’m good for the day.
A split-finger design gives the Black Diamond Guide Finger gloves extra warmth while maintaining dexterity. Three fingers sit together with the index finger separated, but there is enough room to scrunch all your fingers together while on the lift, which is especially nice if you have a handwarmer in the mitten-part of the glove. The GORE-TEX® inserts ensures total moisture protection while the large gauntlets keeps powder from sneaking its way in through the back door. In addition to a 300 g Polartec® fleece palm lining, the Guide Finger gloves also features removable liners with PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation and boiled wool.
- 100% waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX insert with Plus Warm Technology stays with removable liner
- Abrasion-resistant, woven nylon shell with 4-way stretch
- Removable liner features 170 g PrimaLoft Gold and boiled wool 300 g Polartec fleece palm lining
- Goat-leather palm and palm patch
- Foam padding on knuckles for impact protection
I’ve found these work best in powder, as it keeps the cold snow from touching the boot plastic and sucking heat away from the interior. However, they do cover the lowest two boot buckles, so this accessory is not for those who like to (or need to!) fiddle with the buckles during the day.
- Helps retain up to +20 degrees inside the boot
- Includes thermal reflective adhesive strips for additional insulation from inside the boot
- Adjustable Velcro heel strap for ease of use and adjustment
- Side abrasion resistant patches for durability and wear
- Wind and water resistant neoprene material
Another quick-moving and slightly colder storm is currently timed for Wednesday afternoon, with another 1-4” of snow expected for Thursday morning. Interestingly, part of this storm splits as it crosses the West Coast on Tuesday, with the southern part of the storm taking a Baja vacation for a few days before it may affect Colorado late in the weekend.
Ahead of the possible late-weekend or early-the-following-week storm, dry air overspreads our area for a very nice three day stretch of weather from Thursday through Saturday with seasonably warm temperatures.
A large and cold storm takes shape in the Gulf of Alaska next weekend and is forecast to move southward along the West Coast. The southern end of the Wednesday storm looks to be dislodged by the incoming West Coast storm and move over Colorado around Sunday for increased chances of warm and unsettled weather.
However, there is a lot of uncertainty as to whether the large storm stays off the West Coast or moves inland late in the weekend, with the European ECMWF being the slower solution. The track of this West Coast storm will play a large part in our weather for the next work week, with a cold and snowy period just as likely as a warmer and drier period, at this point in the forecast.
Warm and mostly sunny through Thanksgiving weekend except for Friday
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Moisture rotating through a ridge of high pressure centered over the western states has brought clouds to the Steamboat Springs area today. Some light rain showers at the lower elevations and snow showers at the higher elevations are possible through this evening before drier air pushes into Colorado early Thanksgiving morning.
Warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies are expected for Thanksgiving Day before a weakening and quickly moving storm grazes northern Colorado on Friday. Temperatures will fall from Thursday under cloudy skies, and there may be some high elevation snow showers and low elevations rain showers during the day and overnight on Friday.
I spend a lot of time skiing and mountain biking, depending on the season, and these are some of the products that have worked very well for me. Consider purchasing them through these links as I will earn a small commission that will help me keep SnowAlarm running. And feel free to contact me if you would like to see your product endorsed.
You may not know it, but you want progressive flex in your ski boots. This allows the tongue of the boot to maintain contact with your shin through all phases of the turn. Comfort and control with no sore shins!
The Booster Strap is made of high strength elastomeric webbing with an anti-slip micro-adjustable cam buckle. The elastomer allows flexibility, vibration and shock damping. The cam buckle assures a better fit and more comfort.
The Booster Strap elastically fastens together the leg and the ski boot and provides direct ski control so the skis will start turning sooner and will end the turn faster. The graded elasticity of the product allows skiers to choose the reaction speeds that best suit their technical and physical characteristics and skiing ability.
I’ve found these work best in powder, as it keeps the cold snow from touching the boot plastic and sucking heat away from the interior. However, they do cover the lowest two boot buckles, so this accessory is not for those who like to (or need to!) fiddle with the buckles during the day.
- Helps retain up to +20 degrees inside the boot
- Includes thermal reflective adhesive strips for additional insulation from inside the boot
- Adjustable Velcro heel strap for ease of use and adjustment
- Side abrasion resistant patches for durability and wear
- Wind and water resistant neoprene material
Drier and warmer air follows the small storm for Saturday as skies turn sunnier through the day. Sunday should be even warmer and sunnier than Saturday ahead of our next weather-maker currently timed for around Monday.
Though much cooler temperatures are very likely for the beginning of the work week, there is uncertainty regarding the strength of the storm and its southern extent as it splits while crossing the West Coast on Sunday. The American GFS has kept the storm more consolidated with quick-moving snow showers for Monday and Tuesday, while the European ECMWF has now dumped more energy and moisture into the southern part of the storm. The European solution delays the arrival of the cool air till early Tuesday as it brings a stronger and slower moving storm across the Great Basin. This solution favors more significant snows over our area for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Both models indicated a short break in our weather around Thursday before possibly turning unsettled again around the following weekend.
Cool mornings and warm dry days follow a small storm on Tuesday
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Other than some light accumulations on the mountain on Tuesday, the next week looks dry in Steamboat Springs. Monday will be similar to today as a very dry airmass sits over the western states. We’ve seen our first strong temperature inversion of the season this morning (where air temperatures increase with increasing height) with a low of 4F in the valley and 18F on the top of Mt. Werner at that time.
A storm currently off the Pacific Northwest coast will split as it makes landfall tonight, with moisture ahead of the southern split of the storm bringing first high clouds to our area later Monday and then showers by Monday night. Precipitation will start as rain in the Yampa Valley before some cool air grazes northern Colorado early Tuesday, changing the rain showers over to snow showers for a time. I would expect 1-4” of snow at the higher elevations by Wednesday morning for the Steamboat Ski Area’s scheduled Opening Day, with no accumulations in the valley.
I spend a lot of time skiing and mountain biking, depending on the season, and these are some of the products that have worked very well for me. Consider purchasing them through these links as I will earn a small commission that will help me keep SnowAlarm running. And feel free to contact me if you would like to see your product endorsed.
I’ve found these work best in powder, as it keeps the cold snow from touching the boot plastic and sucking heat away from the interior. However, they do cover the lowest two boot buckles, so this accessory is not for those who like to (or need to!) fiddle with the buckles during the day.
- Helps retain up to +20 degrees inside the boot
- Includes thermal reflective adhesive strips for additional insulation from inside the boot
- Adjustable Velcro heel strap for ease of use and adjustment
- Side abrasion resistant patches for durability and wear
- Wind and water resistant neoprene material
I’ve used these from their beginnings, and can honestly say that each iteration of the product is better than the last. I have the S4 custom, attached to my powerstrap so they never fall off, and my toes stay warm for my entire ski day.
Hotronic’s Foot Warmers S Series are the culmination of years of experience in research, design, and testing. With thin profile, high capacity, cold-temperature-operation Battery Packs, the S Series are Hotronic’s most powerful yet compact Foot Warmer designs to date. Maintain comfort and warmth in your feet when it matters most, in the cold!
Even though a ridge of high pressure builds over the western states behind the grazing storm, moisture will travel over the ridge leading to a mostly cloudy Wednesday, with the possibility of a stray shower later in the day. The overnight clouds on Tuesday and Wednesday nights will lead to warmer minimum temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday mornings as the clouds act like an insulating earth-blanket.
Thanksgiving Day looks warm and mostly sunny by the afternoon as drier air moves over our area.
The possible storm for Friday has trended weaker and further north, and it now looks like our area will miss even showers, though some cool air does get dragged over the area around Friday night.
The western ridge is advertised to rebuild for the weekend, bringing plenty of sun and warm afternoon days. And that looks to persist for a couple of days into the next work week before the weather may turn unsettled around midweek.
