Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

**RonMexico** · 12-16-2012, 05:25 PM

Just pounded for about 45 minutes in Silverthorne, but have some blue sky showing to the NE now.

**N1CK.** · 12-16-2012, 08:40 PM

Snowed all afternoon at Mary Jane on top of 6" fresh snow from yesterday, maybe 2-3" from Noon on to close (pretty much empty too) and still snowing when we left.

**knumbskull** · 12-16-2012, 09:11 PM

THE MODELS SHOW ALL THE INGREDIENTS ARE SETTING UP FOR A MAJOR
WINTER STORM. A STRENGTHENING UPPER TROUGH WITH STRONG POLAR JET
WILL PROVIDE BROAD DYNAMIC LIFT. A DEVELOPING WAVE ALONG THE POLAR
FRONT WITH AMPLE MOISTURE ADVECTING IN WITH THE SYSTEM WILL
PROVIDE LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE AND MOISTURE FOR PRECIPITATION. WEST
TO NORTHWEST WINDS AT MOUNTAINTOP LEVEL FOR ENHANCED OROGRAPHIC
SNOWFALL...AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS IN THE KEY DENDRITIC GROWTH
TEMP RANGE IN THE FORECAST SOUNDINGS WILL HELP WITH EFFICIENT SNOW
PRODUCTION. LASTLY...700 MB TEMPS WILL BE AT AND COLDER THAN MINUS
10 WITH A 500 MB COLD CORE OF MINUS 34 RIDING OVER THE AREA.
TIMING THE BEGINNING OF SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL AND WHICH AREAS IT
WILL HIT FIRST REMAIN A BIT UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME...SO LATER
SHIFTS WILL BE LEFT THE TASK OF DECIDING WHEN EACH ZONE WILL BE
UPGRADED TO A WINTER STORM WARNING...OR BLIZZARD WARNING.

**Micol** · 12-16-2012, 09:51 PM

WC didnt lie on that report. Deep fun
knife, horseshoe and beyond still not open, so have at it

**pfluffenmeister** · 12-16-2012, 10:41 PM

^^^ no they did not.

it was deep.

**goldenboy** · 12-16-2012, 10:46 PM

Yep, WC was Trenchtown today, and still coming down.

**goldenboy** · 12-16-2012, 11:08 PM

I have a feeling that the Irwin powcam will prove to be a popular one in this thread. (Though for the record, I'm not sure how often they clear it)

**FiveLarge** · 12-17-2012, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by pfluffenmeister

^^^ no they did not.

it was deep.

So, no Silverton yet? Look forward to a report from there...

**Crampedon** · 12-17-2012, 01:24 AM

Here is coppers snow stake cam for fun. Maybe we can sneak one up on Vail somewhere in view of a webcam, disguise it as something...

Ideas? A bronze elk? The village volvo cam used to be good, they would clean it off twice a day, but not volvo yet

http://www.coppercolorado.com/winter...snow_stake_cam

**montanaskier** · 12-17-2012, 06:37 AM

HEAVY SNOWFALL RATES WILL BE "EYE POPPING".

and I'll be in Denver....you're welcome

**rmnpsplitter** · 12-17-2012, 06:42 AM

Right, this lined up perfectly with our trip to see the wife's fam in Lincoln, Nebraska... Sucks but at least it feels like winter again!!

**bobsdesk** · 12-17-2012, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by spthomson

So, no Silverton yet? Look forward to a report from there...

we skied silverton saturday / sunday. colorado, cabin, riff raff, rope dee 1 and 4 were open. the apron on rope dee 1 and 4 ski really well in spots, especially sunday. everything else was comically thin. if they can get another good storm 20-30 inches over 5-6 days, they'll be doing ok. if it gets dry down there for 7-10 days, they are in a dire situation. for reference, you can't ski anything on the lift side of the mountain...there is ~10-12 inches on the ground 3/4 of the way up the lift.

**Micol** · 12-17-2012, 09:05 AM

**pfluffenmeister** · 12-17-2012, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by spthomson

So, no Silverton yet? Look forward to a report from there...

the trip was a bit of a debacle.
i didn't get the tranny fixed in my 4x4 Astro Van so I took my trusty Honda Civic.
yeah, the light front wheel drive honda did not like the slushy conditions going up the pass to Silverton.
after 6.5 hours of driving, I was not amused.
i decided that this was a sign indicating that i should not spend any money on hotels until the van is fixed.
went to Wolfy instead.

Originally Posted by bobsdesk

we skied silverton saturday / sunday. colorado, cabin, riff raff, rope dee 1 and 4 were open. the apron on rope dee 1 and 4 ski really well in spots, especially sunday. everything else was comically thin. if they can get another good storm 20-30 inches over 5-6 days, they'll be doing ok. if it gets dry down there for 7-10 days, they are in a dire situation. for reference, you can't ski anything on the lift side of the mountain...there is ~10-12 inches on the ground 3/4 of the way up the lift.

oy, maybe i'm glad i couldn't make it over.

**pappag** · 12-17-2012, 10:19 AM

One more from Saturday:

**BDKeg** · 12-17-2012, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by PappaG

One more from Saturday:

ah how things change. I recall just 1.5 weeks ago there was still massive butthurt in the ranks. Nice photo

**pappag** · 12-17-2012, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by BDKeg

ah how things change. I recall just 1.5 weeks ago there was still massive butthurt in the ranks. Nice photo

Thanks.

And there was. And I started saying how we would get nuked on last weekend, this week, and next into the new year. And apparently the GFS models weren't good enough for anyone. And for the record, when the European models are wrong and completely opposite of the GFS, expect far better conditions than predicted.

**hatchgreenchile** · 12-17-2012, 10:55 AM

Very cool to see this thread go from complete butthurt to full on stoke.

5 feet at Wolf Creek. Nuking at Steamboat. Consistent cold temperatures and snow everywhere in between. Things are shaping up. I heard Bourbon might even stick around.

**BDKeg** · 12-17-2012, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by PappaG

Thanks.

And there was. And I started saying how we would get nuked on last weekend, this week, and next into the new year. And apparently the GFS models weren't good enough for anyone. And for the record, when the European models are wrong and completely opposite of the GFS, expect far better conditions than predicted.

props on that. Models look good going into new years. We should have almost the whole front side open at the resort open after this storm tuesday night. I imagine headwall/north face won't be too far behind either.

**F.D.V.** · 12-17-2012, 12:23 PM

Wolfie was decent on Saturday/Sunday...

Definitely cured butthurtz for many a mag and minion.

Now, if only we can do something about the front range shitshow drivers who think 160 is I-70. Slow down asshats...

**PowTron** · 12-17-2012, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by F.D.V.

Wolfie was decent on Saturday/Sunday...

Definitely cured butthurtz for many a mag and minion.

Now, if only we can do something about the front range shitshow drivers who think 160 is I-70. Slow down asshats...

Smmokan and I are heading down tomorrow night I think for the next BLASTING of POW-FACIAL...will be sure to drive as fast as possible.

Forecast looks good, but may have to wait till the last minute to make up our mind which way we are heading.

**Wildman** · 12-17-2012, 02:07 PM

Sick Day scheduled for Wednesday. BRING IT ULLR!

**Soups** · 12-17-2012, 03:17 PM

The 5-day GFS is the sweetness....

**Lindahl** · 12-17-2012, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by MiCol

WC didnt lie on that report. Deep fun
knife, horseshoe and beyond still not open, so have at it

I have a feeling they tend not to open that stuff until the second major storm of the season. Enough work to do trying to get the other stuff open with the limited staff.

**Micol** · 12-17-2012, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by PowTron

Smmokan and I are heading down tomorrow night I think for the next BLASTING of POW-FACIAL...will be sure to drive as fast as possible.

Forecast looks good, but may have to wait till the last minute to make up our mind which way we are heading.

WC snowed all day sunday and was practically vacant afternoon on. Anything "hike to" off alberta lift was closed. Alberta peak was socked in and I didnt need to hike to get face shots. I dont think it was open either and I heard bombing going on.

I bet hike to stuff still isnt open, which means trackless goodness by tues or wed.

I pass , I've been passed on 160 , but im no front ranger. Im Pine St, Dale Norter during my southern san juan visits