Steamboat, northern mountain ranges in line to pick up good snow on Thursday and Friday

Today, we are in between systems as dry weather has entered the region for the time being, but unsettled conditions will return to the mountains tomorrow ahead of the next system.  A storm is expected to impact northern Colorado on Thursday and Friday, and it is looking better today than it did yesterday.  This is great news for northern ski areas, many of which could end up seeing powder days on Friday.  There will be enough moisture present tomorrow for snow showers to kick up around Steamboat and the mountains north of I-70, with scattered light accumulations possible for higher elevations.

However, the real action will begin on Thursday, when the first part of the storm system moves in.  There will be two main shots of energy from this storm, one on Thursday and one on Friday.  Models seem to be coming into agreement about the first part of the storm Thursday, while there is still some uncertainty with the second part (but hints that it could be even stronger than the first part... we shall see).  Right now, it looks like Steamboat and the northern Front Range near the Continental Divide (Cameron Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, etc.) could see a foot or more of snow through Friday morning, while Summit County and the central Front Range mountains (Berthoud/Loveland Passes) will likely be in the six-inch range, with locally higher amounts possible.

By tomorrow, there will be a better idea of expected accumulations for these areas, and it also remains to be seen how much snow the second part of the system will bring on Friday.  Steamboat will likely have the best snow of the ski resorts on Friday, while Winter Park, Loveland, A-Basin, Breck, Copper, and Vail will all be in play for powder days as well.  Areas in central and southern Colorado are not likely to see much if any snow accumulations from this system.


Colder temperatures return to Denver on Thursday

It's a beautiful day for the Front Range cities today, with the return of clear skies and temperatures in the low 40's in most places this afternoon.  Temperatures will be a relatively milder tonight (low to mid 20's as opposed to teens) thanks to a weak downslope off the Front Range (winds descending a mountain range = warming of the air), and tomorrow we'll see high temperatures push 50 under sunny skies.  Not as mild as last week, but certainly comfortable for mid February.

On Thursday, a cold front associated with the system I mentioned above will bring clouds and much colder temperatures to the metro area, with highs only reaching the low to mid 30's (likely early in the day).  We may see a round of upslope snow in the city Thursday afternoon following the frontal passage, but once again, only light accumulations are expected for now (perhaps an inch or two for the foothills).  Friday will be chilly as well, with continued cloudiness and perhaps a chance of snow depending on what happens with the second part of the storm system, which is still uncertain for now.


Dry weather this weekend followed by a possible President's Day storm on Monday

This weekend, sunny skies and westerly winds associated with a high pressure ridge will move into the state, and beautiful weather will return to the city for President's Day weekend.  Temperatures will rebound from a chilly start Saturday morning, reaching the upper 40's, and by Sunday, we should be in the mid 50's.  The temperature roller coaster will continue on Monday however, as the next storm system moves in.

Models have consistently been showing another storm system moving into Colorado on Monday, but it is still too early to know where the best snow is going to fall (even Denver and the Front Range cities and foothills will be in play).  The good news is that it will snow somewhere in Colorado, and another system will be following on its heels Wednesday... and a continued active pattern looking even farther ahead.