The storm is here! The mid-mountain snow stake recorded 7 inches between about Friday at 11 pm and Saturday at 5 pm. Snow should continue through the day on Saturday, with perhaps the most intense snow falling late on Saturday afternoon and early Saturday evening as a cold front passes through. Expect an additional 9-18 inch on Saturday and Saturday evening, and the best time to ski powder could be later on Saturday afternoon and also the first chair on Sunday morning.

Following the Saturday storm, Sunday should be dry, then the next storm will bring snow from Sunday night through Monday night with at least another 6-12 inches of accumulation. Like the last storm, this system will bring a wind direction from the west, which is the best direction for Steamboat to receive deep snowfall. Expect snow to be falling when you wake up on Christmas morning, and there will be powder to ski on Christmas Day.

Tuesday should be dry, then I do not know what will happen. We could see additional light to moderate storms through New Years, or these storms might stay just a bit to our north with more snow to return in early January. I'll keep you posted.

JOEL GRATZ, Meteorologist at OpenSnow.com