Snow reports and a look at the forecast for the Fri night to Sun storm system

01/23/24 8:30am: Morning, we have more snow on the way for the mountains and front-range (Den/Bou) starting Friday night and through the day Saturday into Sunday. But first good to see a little bit of new snow in across the north-central mountains as expected.

Here are some notable 24hr snow reports from the ski areas and CAIC snotel aggregator:

Crested Butte: 3"
Loveland: 2"
Cameron Pass snotel: 2"
Steamboat: 1" (2-3" at top of mountain)
Vail: 1" (2" in 48hr)
A-Basin: 1"
Willow Creek Pass snotel: 1"
Berthoud Pass snotel: 1"
Winter Park: 1"
Copper: 1"
Powderhorn: 1"

I'll be working on my snowfall forecast map for the Sat/Sun storm tonight but here is a quick look based on some of the latest model data below.

First some on/off light snow in the north-central mountains today: Trace-1" in spots.

Then for the north-central mountains including Routt, Pitkin, Eagle, Summit, Grand, ClearCreek, western Boulder/Larimer counties the next round of more substantial snow will be from 5pm Fri to 8pm Sun (heaviest Sat afternoon / evening). Generally 3-7" of new snow for the local ski areas with highest amounts in the Park Range (near/north of Steamboat ski) and especially in the northern Medicine Bow Range (from RMNP to Cameron Pass), up to 10-12" of new snow expected in those aforementioned spots.

For Den/Bou and the front-range also looks like a good shot of snow with the jet-stream overhead (left exit region) with a cold-front and shot of northerly to northeast upslope flow. Best chances for snow will be from 2am Sat to 2pm Sun (heaviest Sat afternoon). Generally looks like 2-5" for the urban corridor with 4-9" for the foothills...highest amounts are expected from Boulder north to Ft. Collins and in the adjacent foothills.

Less snow likely over southern CO (south of Aspen and south of Colorado Springs on the front-range) since the jet-stream will be siting further north during the first part of the event (jet-stream overhead). Still high uncertainty in what happens with last part of th storm system as the upper-level low to our west creeps east (could bring some snow to southern CO / San Juans Sat night into Sun but not looking like much at the moment).

First image shows forecast total snowfall from now through 5am Mon from latest ECMWF model. Second image is equivalent from latest ICON model run. Third image is a forecast slide showing snowing probability of >2" from Den/Bou NWS office. Fourth image is current view of the Steamboat Powdercam (top of ski area with some fresh snow).