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.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Saturday night
Saturday, March 26, 2016
After a cool start to the day Sunday, temperatures will warm for tomorrow and Monday with partly to mostly sunny skies. The next storm dropping south along the West coast on Sunday will bring clouds and breezy southwest winds to the area by later Monday.
Tuesday will be a transition day as the storm approaches with 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 the cold front passes, currently timed for Tuesday evening but subject to change as we get closer to the event. Significant snows are forecast for Tuesday night and Wednesday before a short break is currently forecast for Thursday morning.
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.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Friday night
Friday, March 25, 2016
Snow showers will continue tonight as the southern part of the splitting storm moves south of our area. Models yesterday had more significant snows over our area for tonight than is currently advertised, so with 1-4” of snow overnight, the Saturday morning ski report should be around 3-6”.
Snow showers will continue tomorrow with only small accumulations on the hill and none in the valleys.
Temperatures will warm for Sunday and Monday with partly to mostly sunny skies before the next storm dropping south along the West coast on Sunday brings clouds to the area later Monday. Possibly significant snows are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday with cool temperatures and unsettled weather lasting for the work week.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Thursday night
Thursday, March 24, 2016
A Pacific storm just to our northwest will split tonight as it approaches our area, with the northern part of the split traveling over northern Colorado around sunrise tomorrow. Breezy west-northwest winds, with some westerly winds around sunrise, will drive orographic or terrain-driven snows, where higher elevations will see more snow than lower elevations. Snows will increase tonight becoming heaviest between midnight tonight and noon Friday. I expect 3-6” on the mountain for the Friday morning report and some Steamboat Magic after that bringing an additional 2-5” by noon.
Steamboat will likely see around 1-3” by the morning with another 1-3” during the morning, while Craig will be closer to an inch overnight and again during the day Friday, with possibly mixed rain-snow showers during the day.
The second half of the split will affect our area Friday night as the storm head to the Four Corners by Saturday, bringing another 3-6” overnight Friday for a 5-11” Saturday morning ski report. Snow showers will persist on the mountain Saturday while they linger in the valleys.
Moisture decreases but looks to hang around for Sunday and Monday keeping showers around for the afternoons though the mornings should see sun. Temperatures will warm considerably for these days compared to the beginning of the weekend.
The next possibly significant storm may begin affecting our area by Tuesday.
