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Welcome Back

I hope that everyone had an awesome summer and fall! It's been downright gorgeous for the past three weeks in the Colorado high country, with glowing foliage, warm temps, and clear skies.

But are you ready for winter? It's coming...

Friday - Saturday

We'll receive two more days of mild and dry weather on Friday and Saturday, though Saturday will be quite windy across the higher terrain as Sunday's storm approaches. Expect clear skies each day ahead of increasing cloud cover through Saturday night.

Sunday - Monday

We should remain mostly dry through Saturday night ahead of windy conditions and increasing snowfall rates through Sunday.

A potent cold front will move through Colorado around midday Sunday and this will be the main driver for snowfall along the I-70 corridor, along with the wind switching to blow out of the west and northwest during the second half of Sunday and into Sunday night.

Overall, this won't be a big-time snow producer for the I-70 corridor but 3-6 inches feel about right for the ski resorts through Sunday night. The one wildcard will be bands of heavy snow that could stall over any (lucky) location.

For Monday, we'll wake up to fresh snow and the coldest temperatures that we've received in quite some time. I can't completely rule out additional snow showers through Monday afternoon but the main event will be behind us. Clearing skies follow on Monday night, with temps dropping into the single-digits to low teens.

Tuesday - Wednesday

Dry weather will prevail on Tuesday and likely continue through Wednesday. Daytime highs will climb into the 20s to low 30s, with overnight lows in the teens. Should be ideal for around-the-clock snowmaking.

Travel Forecast

Dry road surfaces and normal travel speeds continue on Friday and Saturday.

Wet and icy road surfaces will form through Sunday morning, followed by slick and snow-packed road surfaces through Sunday night. Midday Sunday through Sunday evening will feature difficult travel conditions so do your best to avoid traveling along I-70 during this time.

Icy and snow-packed surfaces will continue into Monday as very cold temperatures and off-and-on snowfall linger over the corridor. Travel should cruise along at normal speeds, though keep an eye on CDOT for potential travel impacts.

Dry road surfaces and normal travel speeds return on Tuesday and continue through Wednesday.

Our next chance for potential travel impacts will arrive on Thursday, October 27, followed by clear and dry road surfaces through the weekend of October 29/30.

Following dry weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, we'll be tracking our next chance for snowfall around Thursday, October 27. This quick-hitting storm doesn't look overly strong and I mostly expect light snowfall and windy conditions through Thursday night.

Looking further ahead, dry weather should prevail from Friday, October 28 through Sunday, October 30. There are then hints of additional storms as we flip the calendar into November but as always, we'll see how everything trends as we get closer.

Thanks for reading! Next update on Monday (10/24).

SAM COLLENTINE

P.S. A lot of people wonder if they even need winter tires. The truth is, winter tires are distinct from all-season and summer tires in a variety of ways. The key difference being that the cold weather tread compound remains flexible below 45 degrees. This improves traction, handling, and braking in all cold weather conditions.

Just look at the graphic below...

So yes, winter tires are a wise investment and I can't recommend them enough. Not just for your own safety and peace of mind but for your fellow travelers along the I-70 corridor.

Forecast Anywhere

You can now get a forecast for any location (on land) across the globe, and you can save any of these "Custom Locations" as a favorite. 

Any "Custom Location" comes with estimated 24-hour snowfall. This means that you can set a "Custom Location" for your favorite backcountry spot and get estimated snowfall and estimated snowfall history. Since most backcountry areas do not have snow measurement equipment located at that exact spot, this feature will be a useful way to get a general estimate of how much snow has fallen.

To set your first "Custom Location", make sure that you are using the latest version of our iOS or Android apps (this works on our website, too!), then go to the Map tab, tap any spot on the map, and you're on the way to creating your first "Custom Location". You can learn more about Forecast Anywhere in this short how-to article.

Being able to get the forecast and save points as "Custom Locations" means that you can use our forecast data for any place you'd like to go - for backcountry skiing, camping, or even to see how much we think it'll snow in your backyard. And remember that "Custom Locations" works worldwide, so if you're traveling to a spot on the globe where we don't have a resort-based forecast (we have forecasts for many spots outside the US), go ahead and set up a "Custom Location".

And the last note is that "Custom Locations" are private and no other OpenSnow subscribers will be able to see the "Custom Locations" that you create.

Please check out this new feature and let us know what you think!