Colorado Daily Snow

Heads up, there may be fresher snow! Read the latest Colorado Daily Snow

By Joel Gratz, Founding Meteorologist Posted 7 years ago May 13, 2016

Final Update of the Season

Friends … it is finally time for me to stop looking at weather data on a daily basis.

Actually, that’s not true. I will always look at weather data on a daily basis because I am obsessed and that’s what I love to do.

However, since the temperatures are warming and we are nearing the end of the days with fresh snow, this will be the final Colorado Daily Snow post of the 2015-2016 season. Thank you so much for reading the Colorado Daily Snow and for sharing it with your friends. This has been another year of growth for OpenSnow and I couldn’t be more grateful for your support. And more importantly than the business of OpenSnow, this has also been another fun snow season in Colorado with lots of powder days, and that’s the real measure of happiness:-)

Now on the morning of Friday the 13th of May, most of the state has clear skies with a wave clouds over the front range. For areas west of the front range, the visible satellite image clearly shows the snow-capped mountains. What a sight:

Source: WeatherTap.com

 

Looking at the forecast, Friday’s weather will be sunny and dry.

On Saturday, the first half of the day will be dry, then we’ll see a few storms during the afternoon. There won’t be many storms, but be mindful of the lightning risk if you’re planning to be in the alpine through the late afternoon.

On Saturday night and Sunday, a storm to our west will get close enough to push a few showers over the mountains. This won’t create a terrible Sunday for everyone, but it will make it a less-than-ideal day with a few showers and lightning strikes throughout the day.

Then on Monday and Tuesday, the storm will move over Colorado bringing rain and snow (over 11,000 feet) to most mountains, with precipitation lingering over the southern mountains through the second half of the week.

The long range forecast for the weekend of May 21-22 and Memorial Day weekend looks pretty good with likely dry weather both weekends, but of course we can’t be certain of forecasts for weather that is 10-15 days away.

During the rest of the summer, I will be doing research into the forecast for next season, and in the mean time I’ll leave you with this chart which shows a 75% chance of a La Nina developing in the fall and winter. If this comes to fruition, it should be good news much of Colorado, as well as for the mountains to our north and west.

Source: Columbia University

 

Thanks so (SO) much for reading, and I hope you have fun adventures during the rest of the spring and summer. See you in late August (or earlier if exciting weather happens).

Also, in early June we will be launching an app that will forecast lightning for the Colorado 14ers. If you want to know when the app is launched, please enter your email address here: TrailForecast.com

Thanks!

JOEL GRATZ

 

PS - I just got word that there is going to be a new low-cost lodging option in the Vail Valley, starting this summer! It is called The Bunkhouse and is located in Minturn. On Saturday, May 21st from 4-9pm, they are having an opening party that is also a  fundraiser for local charities…more info here: http://opsw.co/1s6lu0k

 

 

About Our Forecaster

Joel Gratz

Founding Meteorologist

Joel Gratz is the Founding Meteorologist of OpenSnow and has lived in Boulder, Colorado since 2003. Before moving to Colorado, he spent his childhood as a (not very fast) ski racer in eastern Pennsylvania.

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