Weather
This forecast was created at 7 a.m. PST on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Arctic air and a Friday–Saturday storm deliver the best Colorado refresh to the southern and central mountains, with lighter but high-quality snow farther north. Snow levels start modestly higher early, then crash through the event, so conditions trend drier and fluffier as temperatures drop into Saturday night and Sunday morning; next week looks milder and mostly quiet after the cold weekend.
Thursday night through Friday sets the table with rapidly colder air and snow spreading from southwest to northeast. The first meaningful flakes favor the San Juans and southwest mountains Thursday night into Friday, with snow levels generally around 6,000 feet early before trending downward through the day. By Friday afternoon and evening, coverage expands across the central mountains and into the northern ranges, and most resorts stay all snow as snow levels slide toward 4,000 feet and lower overnight. Snow quality starts out fairly good with SLRs commonly in the 13–16:1 range, then improves as colder air deepens.
Friday night through Saturday is the main push, bringing the deepest totals and the lightest snow of the cycle. This is when the southern mountains cash in, led by Wolf Creek at 13″–18″, with Monarch close behind at 11″–15″ for a strong, stormy stretch. The central mountains do well too, with many I-70 and nearby areas landing in the 5″–9″ neighborhood. SLRs during this core window generally run 16–20:1, so snow quality turns good to excellent, especially late Friday night into Saturday. Expect brisk ridgetop weather at times, with west winds commonly 10–15 mph and gusts around 25–30 mph at several higher-elevation resorts.
Saturday night into Sunday morning finishes colder with lingering snow in the south and a sharp drop in snow levels, then a quieter pattern follows to start next week. The southern mountains hold onto snow the longest, with Wolf Creek and Telluride both continuing into Saturday night as snow levels fall toward roughly 2,000–3,000 feet and temperatures dip into the single digits. After the weekend, the broader pattern favors a warmer rebound and mostly dry conditions into early and midweek, with only a small chance for a few passing mountain snow showers.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Wolf Creek – 13″–18″ Fri (01/23) – Sat night (01/24)
- Monarch – 11″–15″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Telluride – 9″–12″ Thu night (01/22) – Sat night (01/24)
- Snowmass – 8″–12″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Crested Butte – 6″–9″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Vail – 6″–9″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Beaver Creek – 6″–9″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Copper Mountain – 6″–8″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Winter Park – 5″–7″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Loveland – 5″–7″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Arapahoe Basin – 5″–7″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Breckenridge – 5″–7″ Fri (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
- Steamboat – 3″–4″ Fri night (01/23) – Sat (01/24)
