Weather
Forecast at 9 pm PST on February 18th, 2023, by Clay Malott
A major storm cycle will bring significant accumulations to Colorado this week. The snow will be fairly well distributed across the entire state, but the most favorable resorts will be Steamboat, Powderhorn, and resorts in the San Juans (Wolf Creek, Silverton, Purgatory, Telluride).
The first storm will last from Sunday morning until Sunday evening. Expect fairly light accumulations from this first wave, but it should keep the snow fresh during the ski day on Sunday since most of the snow will fall during this time. Here are what I see as some plausible totals by Monday morning:
- Steamboat: 6-10″
- I-70 resorts: 1-3″
- Central resorts: 2-3″
- Southern resorts: 1-4″ (highest totals at Silverton)
Showers begin in the northern mountains again on Monday afternoon but will not bring much accumulation, maybe a few inches at most at Steamboat. The main surge of moisture arrives on Tuesday night, where a due-west wind direction will push snowfall almost evenly into the mountains.
Wednesday will be a great day of skiing. I-70 and central resorts will have to wait until Thursday for the best conditions, but Steamboat and San Juan resorts will be excellent on Wednesday. The best resorts for powder skiing on Wednesday will be Steamboat, Crested Butte, Powderhorn, Wolf Creek, and Purgatory. Here are what I see as possible totals (Tuesday night + Wednesday during the ski day):
- Steamboat: 7-11″
- I-70 resorts: 2-4″
- Central resorts: 3-5″Â (totals of 10″+ likely at Crested Butte and Powderhorn)
- Southern resorts: 8-24″ (totals on the higher end of this range at Wolf Creek and Purgatory)
Thursday will bring another great day of skiing, with 1-5″ virtually everywhere across the state, with the best powder chasing prospects at Wolf Creek (8-10″) and Purgatory (6-8″).
Showers will continue to linger on Thursday. Another push of moisture arrives on Thursday night and will last through Saturday morning. It’s too early to say exactly how much this storm will bring, but the southern and central mountains will be most favored. Stay tuned for another forecast this week with updated details!
Thats because Lookout pass is flat and boring! And are the best over-reporting ski area in US!!
Former CDA REsident
Be glad Matt, or else the spot light will be on iderhoe and you’ll be in huge lift lines, traffic jams etc…
Surprised you are not covering IDAHO. Lookout Pass is going to get dumped on with 2-3ft of snow Sunday night into Tuesday and you are talking about 6″ in CO. I know where I’m going to be playing in the snow!