wxgeek's weather-Heavy Mtn Snow, Dry and Breezy Foothills-Update 11/24

Update Mon Nov 24

Mountain snow continues today with bands in waves moving across CO in northwest flow aloft. Some showers moving through the foothills and plains, but accumulations limited to the mountains. Mountain snow will persist into Tuesday but will diminish in intensity and coverage. Breezy to windy conditions will persist in the foothills through Wednesday morning, with gusts to 50 mph at times. Conditions calm, dry and warm on Wednesday and nice weather persists though the weekend. Next precip chance will come next week Tuesday into Wednesday, then more dry weather statewide after that.

For travelers outside the state, models now indicate a significant winter storm will impact the mid Atlantic and northeast Wednesday. System will develop Tuesday and bring rain to the Southeast, then move up the East Coast and bring rain to the immediate coast but snow just inland, as a classic Nor'easter. Some areas could see 6-12 inches of snow that will severely impact busy holiday travel from the Carolinas to New England. Flight delays and cancellations are likely on one of the busiest air travel days of the year. Airlines will struggle to recover over the holiday period due to very full flights. Conditions will improve Thursday, but the damage will be done.

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"Climatology is what you expect, Weather is what you get".

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Update Sat Nov 22

Nice start to the day today, but that will change dramatically along and west of the Divide this afternoon and evening. If you need to make it to western CO, go now.

Snow will move into areas west of Vail Pass this afternoon, and spread east to the Front Range Crest by evening, with snow becoming moderate to heavy at times tonight. Snow level will begin in the 7000-8000 ft range this afternoon, lowering to valley level overnight. Snow will be accompanied by strong west to northwest winds of 30-50 mph which will cause whiteout conditions at times. Very difficult travel across mountains passes from this evening through Monday. Foothills may see some blowoff snow tonight into Sunday morning, especially more western foothill locations with a dusting to an inch possible. In general, foothills will be blustery from today into early next week, with periods of moderate to strong westerly winds in the 15-35 mph range, and higher gusts possible at times. Highest winds look to be Sunday night as well as Monday night, so NWS may issue wind advisories or warnings depending how things evolve. NWS has issued a Winter Storm Warning for mountains areas from the Front Range Crest west between 5 pm Saturday through 5 pm Monday for 10-20 inches of snow. Mountains will be in good shape for Thanksgiving skiing.

Snow looks to diminish by Monday evening/night in the mountains, while strong downslope winds will be possible in the foothills Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The remainder of next week looks mostly dry with temps near to above seasonal norms, so Thanksgiving travel in CO looks to be uneventful. Next snow chances will be next Sunday, and that is not looking very significant at this point.

Across the U.S., a powerful system will bring very heavy rain to much of the eastern third of the country Sunday into Monday. By Monday, near blizzard conditions may exist across the upper midwest and Great lakes, so expect some travel delays and possible flight cancellations for Chicago and Detroit. By Tuesday, just some lake effect snow across the Great Lakes. then good travel weather for the remainder of the week except for snow across the northern Rockies Wednesday into Thursday.

_________________
"Climatology is what you expect, Weather is what you get".

"It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong".

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Pretty Nice day across the state today with temps near seasonal norms. Over the weekend, a strong northwest flow aloft will bring systems from the Pacific Northwest into western CO and produce copious amounts of snow in the mountains. East of the Divide, snow will be possible east to the Front Range Crest, then fizzle out quickly east of there.

Snow will move into western CO Saturday afternoon, and will persist nearly non-stop into Monday afternoon. NWS has issued a Winter Storm Warning for mountain areas along and west of the Divide from 3 pm Saturday through 6 pm Monday for 10-20 inches of snow. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for mountain areas east of the Divide to the Front Range Crest from Saturday afternoon through Monday afternoon for 8-16 inches of snow. Snow will be accompanied by strong northwest winds of 30-50 mph, causing very difficult travel conditions across CO at times this weekend. Expect delays and possible closures of roads at times.

For the foothills, best chance to see any snow will occur Saturday night into Sunday afternoon. Currently not expecting much more than a dusting to an inch or two in favored locations. Snow chances diminish Sunday evening. Cooler temps in store for Saturday afternoon into Monday with temps below seasonal norms. Most areas of CO will also be breezy to windy at times on Sunday and Monday with west to northwest winds of 15-35 mph, with higher gusts possible.

By Tuesday, only a few flurries expected in the High Country with drier and warmer conditions statewide. However, strong northwest flow aloft will combine with a favorable surface pattern for a possible high wind event in the foothills Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Winds up to 70-80 mph may be possible.

For the Thanksgiving Holiday period, generally nice weather is expected across CO. Dry conditions with temps at or slightly above seasonal norms from Thursday into next weekend and relatively light winds.

For those traveling elsewhere, Sunday and Monday will see a lot of rain across the eastern U.S. turning to snow across the Great Lakes on Monday. People in the snow burdened eastern Great Lakes will see 1-2 inches of rain Sunday, so flooding will become an issue when that combines with the 3-6 feet of snow they have on the ground, then more snow on Monday. Generally nice travel weather from next Tuesday through next weekend. Some more snow in the Great lakes next weekend and some rain on the West Coast, but nothing too serious for travel delays.

_________________
"Climatology is what you expect, Weather is what you get".

"It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong".

Bump for 11/24 update