Keystone Resort (Base: 9,280', Top: 12,408')
6-day Forecast Discussion Updated for Tuesday, January 6, 2009PLEASE NOTE: The temperatures shown for "base" are more of a mid mountain temperature forecast (if only 1 temperature is shown for "base", celcius and farenheit). In season (October through April) we are back to forecasting base and top temperatures for our partner resorts (Aspen-Snowmass/ Beaver Creek/ Breckenridge/ Keystone/ Vail/ Winter Park), and some others we would like to be sponsored by.
SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK -//> UPDATED AGAIN AT 3:30PM MST TUESDAY, JANUARY 6TH...TODAY looks continued cold and becoming windy, with light and scattered to isolated snow showers today, in advance of increased snow showers this evening and overnight. Snow increases due to a slug of moisture moving in on strong northwest winds, and a strong jet stream overhead. Temperatures warm some into Wednesday as higher pressure aloft is also ridging in at the same time, and warmer air moves into the region. Areas of blowing and drifting snow are expected by tonight.
WEDNESDAY - > A high pressure ridge aloft builds in over the western US, and an unsettled northwest flow aloft continues across the area. Light and scattered snow showers continue, but lighter as moisture decreases. Temperatures do not look as cold, and winds decrease. Snow showers end late day.
THURSDAY - > Looks warmer, drier, and with less wind, as we are between storms and under a weak high pressure ridge aloft. Skies should be mostly sunny with a few clouds.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY - > A low pressure system out west approaches the state on Friday, with increasing clouds and light snow showers developing toward afternoon. This system passes to the south on Saturday, with decreasing snow and clouds across Colorado. Light snow is expected, except maybe 6 to 8 inches of accumulation across the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado through Saturday. For the northern resorts we cover, expet skies to be partly cloudy most of the day after morning snow.
SUNDAY AND MONDAY - > Higher pressure aloft builds in, and we are between strong high pressure over the eastern Pacific (588+dm), and strong low pressure over Canada's Hudson Bay. This places us under a drier northwest flow aloft, and also leaves us susceptible to the possibility of light snow at times as disturbances in the flow aloft pass through. We think we will see mostly sun, and clouds here and there however. CM
Wednesday Jan 07, 2009
Hi 29°f / 19°f (base/top)
Lo 11°f / 3°f (base/top)
Sky Condition:
Mostly cloudy and milder, with snow continuing but lighter. Winds decrease.
Precipitation:
Snow likely.
Snow Potential
2 to 3 inches of additional accumulation.
Wind:
NW 10 to 20 gusts to 30mph. Gusts to 45mph are possible above timberline.
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Thursday Jan 08, 2009
Hi 35°f / 22°f (base/top)
Lo 5°f / 6°f (base/top)
Sky Condition:
Partly cloudy and milder with west breezes.
Precipitation:
None expected.
Snow Potential
None expected.
Wind:
W 10 to 20mph. Gusts to 40mph are possible above timberline.
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Friday Jan 09, 2009
Hi 29°f / 17°f (base/top)
Lo 2°f / 6°f (base/top)
Sky Condition:
Partly cloudy through the morning. Skies become mostly cloudy, with developing light snow showers in the afternoon, and continuing through overnight.
Precipitation:
Snow likely by afternoon/ evening.
Snow Potential
1 to 2 inches of accumulation.
Wind:
SE/ SW 10 to 20mph.
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Saturday Jan 10, 2009
Hi 24°f / 12°f (base/top)
Lo 5°f / -2°f (base/top)
Sky Condition:
Mostly cloudy with decreasing snow showers in the morning. Skies clear to partly cloudy during the day, with cooler temperatures.
Precipitation:
50% chance for snow in the morning.
Snow Potential
No additional accumulation.
Wind:
NW/ NE 10 to 20mph. Gusts to 35mph are possible above timberline.
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Sunday Jan 11, 2009
Hi 36°f / 24°f (base/top)
Lo -5°f / 7°f (base/top)
Sky Condition:
Partly cloudy and milder with northwest winds.
Precipitation:
None expected.
Snow Potential
None expected.
Wind:
NW 10 to 20 gusts to 30mph. Gusts to 40mph are possible above timberline.
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Monday Jan 12, 2009
Hi 31°f / -1°c (base)
Lo 11°f / -12°c (base)
Sky Condition:
Partly cloudy and cooler with increased northwest winds. Some snow flurries may develop.
Precipitation:
20% chance for snow flurries.
Snow Potential
No accumulation expected.
Wind:
Increasing to NW 15 to 25 gusts to 35mph. Gusts to 55mph are possible above timberline.
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Long range forecast / discussion...January 12 to 15--Through the 18th/ 19th, high pressure strengthens and holds over most of the Western US, with mostly sunny skies and milder temperatures. Since we will be close to storms dropping into the central and eastern US, we may get clipped with light snow from one of these (Monday 12th possibly for starters), though we see mostly tranquil weather with sun and a few clouds. The large scale pattern should shift back to unsettled with storms across the west, sometime around the 20th or so. CM
