Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Sunday night
Sunday, February 14, 2016
A moist northwest jet stream with embedded waves is currently over our area and will lead to periods of snow and gusty west to northwesterly winds through Tuesday morning.
Sunday night: Snow likely with around an inch or two in Steamboat and 3-6” on the mountain, yielding a 5-8” Monday morning ski report. Gusty west to northwest winds, stronger at higher elevations with lows around 20 and fog possible in the valleys.
Monday: Fog possible in the valleys and snow likely with around an inch in Steamboat and 1-4” on the mountain. Gusty west to northwest winds, stronger at higher elevations with highs around 30 in the valleys and 20’s on the mountain.
Monday night: Chance of snow with around an inch in Steamboat and 2-4” on the mountain. Lows around 20.
Current storm lasts till Tuesday morning followed by another Thursday afternoon
A moist northwest jet stream with embedded waves is over the Steamboat Springs area and is responsible for the 2” of snow that fell at the top of Sunshine Peak this afternoon. Continued gusty west to northwest winds up to 40 mph will continue the snow on the hill tonight as a wave moves across, leaving another 3-6” of snow for a 5-8” Monday morning ski report.
Snows will decrease in intensity but continue on Monday as the atmosphere warms slightly behind the departing wave, with an additional 1-4” during the rest of the day.
The last embedded wave moves across our area around Monday evening, cooling temperatures and increasing snowfall rates a bit, with an additional 2-4” overnight.
There may be lingering clouds and possible snow showers early Tuesday behind the wave, but the Great Basin ridge builds over us after that, bringing warm, dry air and sunny skies back over the area by later Tuesday into Wednesday.
A stronger storm over the Pacific is forecast to cross the California coast midweek and spread clouds over our area by Wednesday night and bring snows and moderate westerly winds to the area as soon as Thursday. There is uncertainty with regards to the amount of weakening the storm will undergo as it interacts with the Great Basin ridge, but current forecasts have precipitation peaking Thursday afternoon through midnight, leaving around 4-8” of snow by Friday morning.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Saturday night
Saturday, February 13, 2016
A moist northwest flow takes aim on our area tomorrow through Monday bringing periods of light to moderate snowfall to the mountain and higher valleys starting Sunday morning. Gusty west to northwest winds may create blowing snow at the higher elevations.
Saturday night: Turning mostly cloudy ahead of the storm tomorrow and Monday with lows around 10.
Sunday: Snow with accumulations around an inch in Steamboat and 2-4” on the mountain. Breezy in the afternoon with west to northwest winds gusting to 25 mph in the valleys and around 40 mph on the mountain creating the possibility of blowing snow. Highs in the 30’s in Craig, around 30 in Steamboat and in the 20’s on the mountain.
Sunday night. Continuing snow and breezy west to northwest winds with snow accumulations of 2-4” in Steamboat and 3-6” on the mountain, yielding a Monday morning snow report of 5-10”. Lows around 20.
Steamboat Springs area short term weather forecast from Friday night
Friday, February 12, 2016
We have one more nice day on Saturday before the next storm spreads clouds over the area late Saturday and increases the chance of snow showers in the high valleys and mountains by early Sunday morning.
Friday night: Partly cloudy with lows in the single digits in Craig and around 10 in Steamboat.
Saturday: Mostly sunny with highs in the 30’s
Saturday night: Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy ahead of the next storm, with snow showers possible late in Steamboat and on the mountain. Lows in the single digits in Craig and teens in Steamboat.
Moderate storms bookend the following week
After a sunny Friday and Saturday, a wave in northwest flow brings some moisture and cool air over the Steamboat Springs area Sunday, beginning snows that will last through Monday night. Amounts are uncertain as models are wavering on the strength of this wave and its southern extent, but right now it looks like 3-6” may be reported on the Monday morning ski report, with an additional 1-4” during the rest of Monday.
There may be lingering clouds and possible snow showers early Tuesday behind the wave, but the Great Basin ridge builds over us after that, bringing warm, dry air and sunny skies back over the area by later Tuesday into Wednesday.
A stronger storm over the Pacific is forecast to cross the California coast midweek and spread clouds over our area by Wednesday night and bring snows to the area as soon as early Thursday. There is disagreement among the models as to the strength of this storm, but early forecast amounts by Friday morning are in the 6-12” range.
