Temps moderating back to near seasonal norms today. An Alberta Clipper will drag a weak cold front across northeast CO on Thursday which will lower temps below seasoanl norms on Thursday and Friday. Only a slight chance for light snow across the far northeast Plains on Thursday associated with this system. Mostly sunny and mild temps expected this weekend as the flow aloft becomes more westerly and we benefit from adibatic warming as the air flows downslope east of the Divide.
For next week, long range models differ on the evolution of an upper low moving down along the West Coast, but the general trend indicates colder temps and snow in the forecast from the middle of next week into next weekend. The Euro solution could bring snow into CO by early next week, while the GFS holds off snow until next Wednesday and into next weekend. So, enjoy the break from the snow this week as it looks like more winter weather will be with us sometime next week. In general, long range models indicate a long wave upper trough will remain over the western US as a strong upper ridge will remain over the eastern Pacific. This will allow storms to track into northwest Canada and then slip down across CO. This pattern looks like it will be in place through the remainder of December, so more snow chances through the end of the year.
Some very cold air currently in place over CO. Temps tonight expected to be in the -5 to -15 range in foothill areas, 0 to -10 in the Urban Corridor. Temps will gradually warm on Tuesday and Wednesday, although still below seasonal norms, but with plenty of sunshine, so snow will melt and turn to black ice overnight, thus roads could remain slick in spots this week.
An Alberta Clipper will skirt north of CO on Thursday, but will drag a cold front across northern CO which will cool temps a bit on Thursday and Friday. The high amplitude upper ridge (blocking high) in the Gulf of Alaska which has caused our storms from Canada this past week will begin to break down by this wekeend, so the flow aloft will transition from our current northerly flow to a more westerly flow which will help temps raise back to near seasonal norms. Models do not indicate any precip chances through this weekend for CO, aside from a slight chance Thu across the extreme northeast corner of the state. Next chance of precip looks to be late next week.
On Conifer Mountain I've recorded 24 inches in the first 5 days of December, so we're already above the average December snowfall of 20 inches. For the year, we're now at 59 inches for the season. It took us until the end of February last year to reach that level, so we're off to a good start this year for snow.
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"Climatology is what you expect, Weather is what you get".
"It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong".
Too bad future generations aren't here to see all the great things we are spending their $$ on!!
