Snow arrived on Tuesday night, right on schedule, and snow continues to fall now on Wednesday morning around sunrise. 

Snow totals are 2-5 inches for most mountains with the higher totals farther to the west and lower totals farther to the east (storm energy weakened as it moved east, and the wind from the west-southwest and west favors areas farther west).

The deepest snow that I found was at Crested Butte with 4-5 inches on their snow stake cam.

On Wednesday morning, steady snow could continue through about mid-morning. Then on Wednesday midday and afternoon, snowfall should relax with just scattered showers and likely low accumulations. Below is the snow forecast for Wednesday.

On Wednesday night, we could see light snow showers continue with low-end accumulations, though this will generally be a lull in the storm.

On Thursday, we'll start out the day with just light snow showers, but by Thursday afternoon, snow should begin to ramp up in the northern mountains.

Thursday night is the next time that piques my interest as a wave of energy and moisture will move over the northern mountains. On Thursday night, there will be narrow bands of intense snow, and along with a favorable wind direction from the west-northwest and the northwest, mountains near and north of I-70 have a chance to see 2-6 inches of snow (or maybe a bit more). There's a chance that the snow could fall as far south as Aspen, and there's also a chance that it stays just a bit farther to the north and hits Copper and Summit County and Winter Park and the continental divide north of I-70 and just misses Vail and Beaver Creek and Cooper and Aspen.

If this Thursday night snow comes through, Friday morning should offer soft conditions in the northern mountains while snowfall wanes and the sun tries to return.

The upcoming weekend will be dry for most areas with a chance for clouds and a few snow showers near the Wyoming border.

Next Monday and Tuesday will be dry.

Then our next chance for a storm will be around Wednesday, November 17 to Thursday, November 18. The average of many versions of the American GEFS model shows a stronger storm (blue colors) heading toward Colorado during this time.

But the average of many versions of the Canadian and European models show a weaker system staying farther to the north during the middle of next week.

I am not sure which model will be correct, and most likely, none of these models will be correct and the actual outcome will be something at least slightly different.

Thanks for reading!

JOEL GRATZ

PS - I posted more info below about my talk in Breckenridge this Thursday night!

Upcoming Talks

Thursday, November 11

* Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge

* 500-730pm

* Tickets are free, suggested donation to SOS Outreach or Summit Biz Bootcamp

To attend, please reserve your ticket, wear a mask, and be vaccinated. Capacity will be limited.

Reserve Your Ticket Here

 

Geography Key

Northern Mountains
Steamboat, Bluebird Backcountry, Granby, Beaver Creek, Vail, Ski Cooper, Copper, Breckenridge, Keystone, Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park, Berthoud Pass, Eldora, Rocky Mountain National Park, Cameron Pass

Along the Divide
Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park, Berthoud Pass

East of the Divide
Eldora, Echo, Rocky Mountain National Park, Cameron Pass

Central Mountains
Aspen, Sunlight, Monarch, Crested Butte, Irwin, Powderhorn

Southern Mountains
Telluride, Silverton – north side of the southern mountains | Purgatory, Wolf Creek – south side of the southern mountains