Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

**gratzo** · 03-13-2012, 11:45 AM

The storm will be late (Sun/Mon/Tue) and give 90% of snow to southern San Juans. If the cut-off low can wobble north, maybe the rest of the state sees decent snow by the early/middle part of next week.

In other news, head to Tahoe for Saturday morning!
http://opensnow.com/location/alpinemeadows

JOEL

**bean** · 03-13-2012, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by funkendrenchman

10 AM with the time change.

It's been getting warmer and not freezing as hard overnight, 9am might not be a bad idea.

**montanaskier** · 03-13-2012, 02:22 PM

53 at 8500 today...just crazy nice outside. Possibility of some dust this weekend it seems with strong SWerly winds. Long term forecasts continue to look super warm and super dry.

**Name Redacted** · 03-13-2012, 02:43 PM

Screw it, this shitty winter is coming to an end. Just means a longer biking and climbing season. I'm over the combination of low tide and faceted hell. Unless spring goes big, and I mean really big, we are fucked for even spring corn season. [/debbiedowner]

What are the long range models saying about say..... next December?

**BrianH** · 03-13-2012, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by PowTron

Yes, and if cut off lows continue I will be driving south myself

Any of you'ns coming down Santa Fe way, have a place to crash if need be. My nephews coming in next week so it's non-stop party action and wall-to-wall babes for the duration.

**BDKeg** · 03-13-2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by shredgnar

Screw it, this shitty winter is coming to an end. Just means a longer biking and climbing season. I'm over the combination of low tide and faceted hell. Unless spring goes big, and I mean really big, we are fucked for even spring corn season. [/debbiedowner]

What are the long range models saying about say..... next December?

neutral or possible el nino by late next summer...yea the northern mountains may just get screwed again next winter

**pappag** · 03-13-2012, 02:59 PM

Most Front Range SNOTEL sites are not that far off from last season (about a 10" difference in snow depth; roughly 4" SWE difference... still on pace for an average year right now). Meanwhile at Independence pass, SWE is 9.8" compared to 17.9" this time last year (38" pack vs. 59").

We're still due 30% of our snow, so I'm hopeful for a few more storms.

**funkendrenchman** · 03-13-2012, 03:14 PM

I predict we'll get a couple inches of snow and a dust layer with this next storm and that will be all she wrote... I think we're at a whopping 125" since Thanksgiving. March COULD see as little snow as December.

**zartagen** · 03-13-2012, 04:41 PM

The back bowls are getting more and more brown with each day. I was playing "jump/dodge/jib all the bare spots that I can," today.

Anyone know of any shops in Vail/Eagle county doing bike work this time of year? I think a trip to Moab would be sweet next week.

**montanaskier** · 03-13-2012, 05:21 PM

eagle for ur bike work but the shop in eagle vail might be doing work already and i bet the kind in edwards would do your bike work now too

**SkiBall** · 03-13-2012, 05:59 PM

Yeah, Peddle Power is open.

**montanaskier** · 03-13-2012, 07:55 PM

I know I've read alot this winter about the positive AO being the main bitch of an issue with this suck ass winter. This was the first time I've read about the positive AO in this context. Good short read.

http://www.almanac.com/blog/weather-...blasted-winter

**smmokan** · 03-13-2012, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by PappaG

Most Front Range SNOTEL sites are not that far off from last season (about a 10" difference in snow depth; roughly 4" SWE difference... still on pace for an average year right now). Meanwhile at Independence pass, SWE is 9.8" compared to 17.9" this time last year (38" pack vs. 59").

We're still due 30% of our snow, so I'm hopeful for a few more storms.

I'll bet those Front Range SNOTEL sites are full of shit... unless you're talking about the one on Pearl Street in Boulder, then it's probably spot on.

**PowTrees** · 03-14-2012, 07:46 AM

Wow, besides washing the car, is it time to change the studs out for summer tires? South winds and split storms r d suck... El Nino usually isn't big, but If we could just have a near average season, I'd take 300 some inches any day over this positive AO shit (Thx for sharing that link MS)

If we don't get decent precipitation this March/early April, the direness will begin. Start thinking about which irreplaceable possessions to have packed for a quick escape Northern Colorado folks, fire season could really be scary.

**Lindahl** · 03-14-2012, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by montanaskier

I know I've read alot this winter about the positive AO being the main bitch of an issue with this suck ass winter. This was the first time I've read about the positive AO in this context. Good short read.

http://www.almanac.com/blog/weather-...blasted-winter

Pretty cool, in a shitty way.

**linvillegorge** · 03-14-2012, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by PowTrees

If we don't get decent precipitation this March/early April, the direness will begin. Start thinking about which irreplaceable possessions to have packed for a quick escape Northern Colorado folks, fire season could really be scary.

I've just resigned myself to the fact that this year is going to be King Suck. After a wam, dry winter, just wait and watch it be unseasonably cool and rainy all summer.

**BDKeg** · 03-14-2012, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by montanaskier

I know I've read alot this winter about the positive AO being the main bitch of an issue with this suck ass winter. This was the first time I've read about the positive AO in this context. Good short read.

http://www.almanac.com/blog/weather-...blasted-winter

nice read, interesting how 1 little volcano halfway around the world can change weather like that, crazy.

wish i didnt have to work during the week, i would be out in fruita right now with the bike.

**Lunkerking** · 03-14-2012, 01:48 PM

How exactly is this possible?

Breckenridge granted its 50th wish on Wednesday: It will stay open an additional two weekends this season.

Season passes will remain valid during the extended season, and the resort is coupling the additional skiing with $50 lift tickets and free parking.

The announcement came on a day when temperatures soared into the 50s in the Town of Breckenridge and snow melted in towns and at Summit County resort base areas.

Resort officials appear to be hinging their bet on the expectation of snow in April, which isn't out of the norm for Summit County.

**montanaskier** · 03-14-2012, 02:03 PM

only on peak 8......gonna farm snow from other areas if there isnt enough

**JoeStrummer** · 03-14-2012, 06:39 PM

Took a stroll from Loveland Pass over Grizzly and Torreys today, then back to the Pass. Pretty grim-looking, thought briefly about skiing Sniktau since it was at least mostly covered, but it was hard and slabby and I didn't want to trigger a vibes thread over a handful of scabby turns. Everything else looked like shit except for Dead Dog.

Still, it was fun just cruising miles of ridges. I felt like Ueli Steck! Well, if Ueli Steck got winded on non-technical terrain and had a BMI of 28.

**Blizzard_of_Oz** · 03-14-2012, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

I'll bet those Front Range SNOTEL sites are full of shit... unless you're talking about the one on Pearl Street in Boulder, then it's probably spot on.

There are a few in CO that are not doing that badly compared to climatology, and these are on the Front Range. The rest of CO is doing kinda crappy (so is Utah and Tahoe area). Lots of blue and black dots on the map.

Eldora, is right on average for the past 30yrs. (Slightly off topic: I believe NRCS still uses 1971-2000 for their averages rather than the most recent 30 years. Those 71-00 averages are from the manual snow courses, not the actual SNOTEL station - not that it should make a big difference when all sampling errors are taken into account.)

**Like a Boss** · 03-14-2012, 10:28 PM

^^^^^Those graphs can eat a dick.

**montanaskier** · 03-15-2012, 10:01 AM

another southern storm then sunny next week and the models hint at another cut off low for next weekend.

Those graphs are teh suck.

**The SnowShow** · 03-15-2012, 10:30 AM

that's a fun hike..nice work

Originally Posted by JoeStrummer

Took a stroll from Loveland Pass over Grizzly and Torreys today, then back to the Pass. Pretty grim-looking, thought briefly about skiing Sniktau since it was at least mostly covered, but it was hard and slabby and I didn't want to trigger a vibes thread over a handful of scabby turns. Everything else looked like shit except for Dead Dog.

Still, it was fun just cruising miles of ridges. I felt like Ueli Steck! Well, if Ueli Steck got winded on non-technical terrain and had a BMI of 28.

**montanaskier** · 03-15-2012, 04:01 PM

high 50s again today on the valley floor and high 40s on the hill. E-S facing runs have dirt showing in spots. Weekend doesn't look impressive for the north at all but the San Juans should get hammered. Looks like a dust event on Saturday.