Weather
This forecast was created at 7:30 a.m. PST on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
Colorado’s mountains pick up a light New Year’s Day into Friday refresh, with the best snowfall focused on the Park Range. Snow levels start on the high side near 8,000–9,000 feet, then trend lower by late Friday, so higher terrain stays wintry while some lower bases flirt with wetter snow early on. Snowfall amounts are generally modest across the I-70 corridor and central mountains, while Steamboat stands out with the most meaningful accumulation; the southern mountains do well for a light system too, although Telluride is temporarily closed. Snow quality is mostly dense to fair with SLRs commonly around 10–13:1, improving a bit late as temperatures cool and snow levels drop. After a dry, warm weekend, the broader pattern into early-to-mid January continues to lean warm overall while also supporting periodic moisture, so additional mountain snow chances look plausible, but snow levels will matter.
Thursday afternoon through Friday is the main window for snowfall, with coverage expanding overnight Thursday and lingering into Friday before tapering. Snow levels during this event generally hover around 8,000–9,000 feet early, then fall closer to roughly 7,200–7,600 feet by Friday night, helping higher elevations finish colder and more consistently snowy. The heaviest totals favor the Park Range, where Steamboat is the clear standout, while most other resorts see a light refresh. Snow quality will lean dense to fair, with SLRs commonly in the 10–13:1 range and the best quality arriving late in the event as temperatures cool into the 20s. Westerly winds are present throughout, occasionally gusty on exposed ridgelines, which can affect comfort and visibility at higher elevations.
Northern Colorado benefits most from this system, while the I-70 corridor and central ranges settle for smaller, more intermittent accumulations. Steamboat should see the most snow from Thursday into Friday night, though warmer profiles keep the snow on the denser side most of the time. Along I-70, Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, and Loveland are likely to see a modest top-up rather than a true storm cycle, with snow levels near or above some base areas early on, then improving as the snow line lowers on Friday. Monarch and Crested Butte do relatively well for a light event, with periods of steadier snow Thursday night and again Friday. Winds are most notable at the more exposed areas, with stronger gusts at times that could make upper-mountain laps feel blustery.
Beyond Friday, conditions trend dry and warm for the weekend, then shift toward a more unsettled signal into early-to-mid January. The overall temperature lean remains above normal, which can keep snow levels elevated during warmer pulses, especially during daytime hours. At the same time, the broader moisture signal favors additional chances for precipitation in the Rockies, so keep an eye out for more frequent mountain snowfall opportunities after the weekend. With temperatures on the mild side, the best skiing conditions will likely depend on timing systems that bring cooler air and lower snow levels, and on focusing on higher terrain as snow lines rise. If the warmer signal verifies, expect periods of heavier, denser snow at times, with occasional windows of better quality when cooler air filters in.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Steamboat – 7″–10″ Thu (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Telluride – 5″–8″ Thu (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Crested Butte – 3″–5″ Thu (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Vail – 2″–3″ Thu night (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Monarch – 2″–3″ Thu (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Snowmass – 2″–3″ Thu night (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Beaver Creek – 2″ Thu night (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Copper Mountain – 1″ Thu night (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
- Loveland – 1″ Thu night (01/01) – Fri night (01/02)
