Big snow for Northern CO mountains; get your powder skis ready!

Heavy, beneficial snow is expected to fall across Northern Colorado and Northwest Wyoming today, bringing as much as two feet to sections of the Park Range (Steamboat).  Yesterday, snow showers dropped 3-5" for many areas from Summit County to Steamboat to Jackson Hole.  Behind northwest winds (northwest flow = good for Northern Colorado), the storm will really get going for areas such as Steamboat, Vail, Winter Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Cameron Pass today.  The same storm system was responsible for dropping as much as 18 inches of snow in the Wasatch Range of Utah yesterday (Alta/Snowbird to be more specific).  Winter storm warnings are posted for Northern Colorado, and winter weather advisories are out for Western Wyoming.  Here are some general snow amounts that can be expected today.

• Steamboat/Park Range - 10-20"
• Vail/Beaver Creek - 6-12"
• Flat Tops - 14-28"
• Gore Range - 12-24"
• Summit County - 4-10"
• Berthoud Pass/Winter Park/Indian Peaks - 6-12"
• Rocky Mountain National Park/Cameron Pass - 10-15"
• Snowy Range (WY) - 10-20"
• Tetons/Yellowstone (WY) - 8-10"
• Absaroka Range (WY) - 8-12"
• Bighorns (WY) - 12-15"

Additionally, a High Wind Warning has been issued for the mountains between Cheyenne and Laramie, with 65+ mph wind gusts possible.  Travelers along I-80 through Southern Wyoming should be aware.  Furthermore, an Avalanche Warning remains in effect for the San Juan Range, where as much as four feet of snow fell between Saturday and Monday.  The weak layers that formed during the January dry spell are failing under the heavy snow that fell, so it would be a good idea to avoid the backcountry in these areas until the new snow settles a bit.  Increasing avalanche danger is also going to be a concern in areas where heavy snow falls today, so backcountry skiers need to be aware. 

Warmer Weather for Denver

The return to colder weather in the metro area was brief, and the snow that fell Monday night will quickly melt as we warm up starting today.  After starting out in the low teens this morning, temperatures should warm into the low 40's this afternoon under sunny skies and a little bit of a downslope wind off the mountains, which will help to quickly warm things up from a chilly start.  High pressure builds in late week and this weekend, so temperatures will warm each day through the end of the week, and by the weekend we'll be well above average again temperature wise, with highs approaching 60.