AVERAGE TEMPERATURES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR;
-At about 8,000 feet (Aspen): Low 37, High 65 (Highest ~ 80 on May 21, 2005, Lowest ~ 20 on May 21, 2001) -At about 9,000 feet (Dillon; near base elev. for Keystone, Breckenridge, Winter Park); Low 27, High 61 (Highest ~ 76 on May 20, 1954, Lowest ~ 0 on May 22, 1933) -Approx 13,000 feet (Near the top elevation of many resorts in CO); Low 23, High 46


::: Mild, dry, and windy today through Sunday/ Cooler and windy, with isolated PM storms Monday and Tuesday/ Colder with more wind, and high country snowfall Wednesday and Thursday :::

DETAILED SUMMARY for the week -> Updated for Friday, May 24... Today through Sunday - High pressure ridging builds in some from the south but still remains mostly south and east (placing the area between low pressure to the northwest and high pressure centered to the southeast), in response to an unseasonably cold low pressure system sitting across the northwest US (snow has fallen to 3,500 feet across Oregon and Washington this week). We have a dry southwest wind flow overhead, and we expect dry air plus gusty winds. Forest vegetation will be drying out. The conditions for hiking or anything else outdoors look great this weekend, except for possible headwinds if you bike toward the south.

Monday and Tuesday - Unseasonably strong and cold low pressure begins pushing in across the western US, with gusty winds, cooler temperatures, and isolated afternoon thunderstorms and showers across the area.

Wednesday and Thursday - The unseasonably strong low pressure system across the western US crosses the Rocky Mountains, with colder air, lower snow levels, and some high country accumulations. Unsettled conditions are possible, and at the least, you should expect showery and chilly conditions. CM

-30 May to 04 June, 2013 - We expect strong and unseasonably cold low pressure to remain across the northwest US (mountain snow to unusually low elevations in the Cascades of WA and OR, and some across Colorado mostly above 9,500 feet or so). Next Friday we continue with the unsettled and chilly, showery regime, yielding possible additional snowfall accumulations across the high country. This type of unsettled pattern across the west may continue into the first few days of June. Afterward, we expect warming temperatures and mostly sunny skies under building high pressure ridging aloft.CM