Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

**goldenboy** · 02-08-2009, 08:59 AM

Forecasts all over the board with this one for CB.
NOAA 3-5 sun
3-7 sun night
1-2 mon

CAIC 5-8
5-8
2-5

CBAC 2-4
4-8
1-3

Hopefully the CAIC is right, but if the flow stays S and doesn't veer SW, I think we're skunked.

**PowTrees** · 02-08-2009, 10:41 AM

Wow, pretty morning, can see the Sun outside my window at 7,800 near Vail... Who knows what it will be like later today?

"Tuesday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 30. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 60%." NWS for Vail

What happened to the jet stream/climate, encouraging a southeast wind in the winter for Vail?

**smmokan** · 02-08-2009, 02:27 PM

Great call on the forecast for NOAA. It was one of the warmest days of the year at Loveland- at the TOP of Chair 1 the snow was starting to soften up.

**montanaskier** · 02-08-2009, 02:28 PM

partly sunny and low to mid 40s againg today....I am beginning to border on butthurt.

**smmokan** · 02-08-2009, 03:39 PM

At least all the trails are dry down here. It keeps this up, I'll be mountain biking more in Feb/Mar than skiing.

**fish** · 02-08-2009, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

At least all the trails are dry down here. It keeps this up, I'll be mountain biking more in Feb/Mar than skiing.

i really don't want that to become a reality for me.

this has become a straight up southern flow

can someone tell me what freezing fog is?

**jon turner** · 02-08-2009, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by fish

can someone tell me what freezing fog is?

From wikipedia:

Freezing fog occurs when liquid fog droplets freeze to surfaces, forming white rime ice. This is very common on mountain tops which are exposed to low clouds. It is equivalent to freezing rain, and essentially the same as the ice that forms inside a freezer which is not of the "frostless" or "frost-free" type. In some areas such as in the State of Oregon, the term "freezing fog" refers to fog where water vapor is super-cooled filling the air with small ice crystals similar to very light snow. It seems to make the fog "tangible", as if one could "grab a handful".

**shirk** · 02-08-2009, 08:50 PM

Certainly not heading to Keystone for the epic gnar. It's a demo event.

You take the good with the bad, the weekend in Nelson followed by a week in Snowbird easily makes up for it.

**PowTrees** · 02-08-2009, 10:50 PM

I think it's snowed an inch out there so far tonight

**montanaskier** · 02-08-2009, 10:56 PM

finally....some snow! If nothing else it makes things look better, covers up the grass and hides the black snow. WoooHooo

**FiveLarge** · 02-08-2009, 11:56 PM

pow day Monday?

**pappag** · 02-09-2009, 12:05 AM

As of 3pm, it was nuking on the east side of Monarch Pass. At least an inch an hour rate.

**FiveLarge** · 02-09-2009, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by NPG

As of 3pm, it was nuking on the east side of Monarch Pass. At least an inch an hour rate.

Yeah, I had a hunch they were going to do well on this one. Who wants to hit up MP later this week?

**funkendrenchman** · 02-09-2009, 12:32 AM

It dumped for just over an hour here. 2"

Now it's partly cloudy... maybe something from the next low will start spilling over early. Precip is now moving from the WSW, but is lacking in intensity.

**PowTrees** · 02-09-2009, 12:41 AM

I'm guessing snowed for an hour or two here, 2 inches if we're lucky...

**smmokan** · 02-09-2009, 11:08 AM

At least Wolf Creek got theirs.

**Rontele** · 02-09-2009, 11:30 AM

Nothing this week gives me any indication that the north or central mountains will get substantial snow...

**smmokan** · 02-09-2009, 11:34 AM

Hey Rontele, what about the southern mountains? A roadtrip to Monarch/CB/Wolf Creek might be in order.

**Rontele** · 02-09-2009, 12:56 PM

SW mountains should do better as the waves track from the SW for the good part of this week.

**montanaskier** · 02-09-2009, 02:01 PM

agree with RT, the flow just isn't that great. Also the cold core that looked on track is now not. Perhaps after this week a NW flow will return and we can get some PacNW storms......and cold.

**Vicious** · 02-09-2009, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

Hey Rontele, what about the southern mountains? A roadtrip to Monarch/CB/Wolf Creek might be in order.

Yea, I'm tempted to head to Monarch for the day tomorrow.

**fish** · 02-09-2009, 04:12 PM

Any updates for Vail/BC or summit county? I'm thinking about neglecting my responsibilities tomorrow in favor of sliding on snow.

**montanaskier** · 02-09-2009, 04:47 PM

as far as the valley floor goes, some light snow today during the day....and not all day.

**mvppsu** · 02-09-2009, 05:30 PM

I skied Highlands today.

The upper mountain (lift served) got about 3 inches overnight. Highland bowl at 11am had at least 6 inches of fresh. This is a combination of new snow and wind blown. It snowed almost the entire day at the top of the bowl. I figure it picked up another 3 inches or so by 2pm.

I did 3 laps of the bowl and had at least boot deep blower every run. Some areas with more drifting had knee deep. If the snow and wind continue tonight, tomorrow should be another good day.

The rest of the mountain was just ok. Temerity area didn't have enough snow to cover the rock hard moguls that are in there. The groomers were great for cruising down in the morning before the bowl opened and at the end of the day. Soft enough to do some good carving on wider boards.

I'm debating whether to ski Highlands again tomorrow or to head over to Snowmass. I've never been to Snowmass and was wondering if the Cirque would have as much powder as Highlands Bowl. It's even higher elevation, but will it catch the powder as well? Does the wind fill it in as well as Highlands? The hike looks to be easier, which is good and bad. I'm not sure how many times I'll be able to make it back up Highlands Bowl after today, but at least it doesn't get skied out very fast.