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RealVail Weather Watch Blog
Snow is falling with no signs of stopping
This water vapor satellite image courtesy of noaa.com shows high moisture content in the upper atmosphere from the southwest.
Courtesy noaa.gov noaa.gov

Snow is falling with no signs of stopping

By Reid Griebling

December 13, 2008 —  Hooray, Hazzaah, Yippie! On Friday a surprising storm (supposedly quick and weak) blasted the Valley. My on mountain source Paul Rush told me at 4 p.m. that two inches had already fallen and it was still snowing as he was leaving the hill.

I left Minturn at 7 p.m. and there was three inches in the parking lot and snow was still flying, a good sign. And the great news, our first big one of the season is barreling out of the Pacific Northwest, and is on a crash course with Colorado.

Much of the Western Slope of Colorado is under a winter storm warning through Sunday evening. A cold and very organized low pressure system is working its way southwest and bringing with it cold temps and high winds.

Snow is falling with no signs of stopping
A favorable jet stream will bring unstable air, mixed with high moisture, it is a recipe for heavy snowfall.
Courtesy avalance.ca avalance.ca

This next system will combine with a moist gulf flow and bring with it heavy snow, and winds in the 15-25 mph range. We could also see gusts in the 50 mph range on the ridge tops overnight Saturday and into Sunday. Temps will drop dramatically once the cold front moves through late Saturday night and stay cold through Monday.

Saturday, on mountain temps will range from 15-25 degrees and winds will be in the high teens and low 20s. Snowfall totals Saturday afternoon should range between 4-8 inches. Saturday night the brunt of the storm will hit Vail and Beaver Creek with moderate to heavy snow fall and windy conditions. Sunday snow totals for the morning report should be great, ranging any where from 10-18 inches for Vail and The Beav'.

Finally, this storm will be the first of many to slam the Rockies' this week. Some forecasters are calling for 5-6 feet of snow to fall in Colorado in the next seven days. We can only hope. If you are lucky enough to ski this weekend, enjoy and don't forget to smile.

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Big snow may hit Vail this weekend
Here is a weather image from U.W. in Seattle, our big system is gaining power just north of Hawaii and moisture is spilling into the southwest from the Gulf of California.
Courtesy NWS 

Big snow may hit Vail this weekend

By Reid Griebling

December 11, 2008 —  A false alarm for the forecasted quick storm that was supposed to wisp through Colorado today (Dec. 11) as the ridge of high pressure was to strong to allow N.W. winds to move in.

This weekend is looking promising for our first significant storm to move into the Rockies.

As of now we are looking at a cold front moving in from the N.W. on Saturday, combining with gulf moisture from the southwest. Quite often these are storms that can produce heavy amounts of snowfall in a short amount of time if the dynamics (wind, dew points, temps.) can all come together.

The jet stream looks favorable as models show that it should be bringing in cold air from Canada and move due west by this Sunday.

Right now the storm looks to last at least three days starting Saturday and ending early Tuesday morning.

With this cold front we will see temperatures drop dramatically Saturday night and continue through mid week. We will keep watch and give snow total predictions as this system moves closer.

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Reid — December 11, 2008

Whoa!!! Don't let the caption fool you. Presumably we might get pounded. Often times things don't set up correct and we're left with 2 inches instead of 20. But I'm just as excited as everyone else, considering Sunday is my 2nd anniversary and nothing would be nicer than a powder day to celebrate. As I stated we will watch this storm closely as it unfolds. Stay tuned. Reid

 

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Weather station down, but winter advisory in effect for Vail Valley
Reid Griebling staying on track of the Vail Valley's weather. Regrettably the weather station is down and won't be up until the new year. But look to the left for the latest snow report from Vail Mountain.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Griebling 

Weather station down, but winter advisory in effect for Vail Valley

By Reid Griebling

December 8, 2008 —  Another low pressure system will quickly pass through the Western Slope today (Mon) and move out Tuesday morning. We are under a winter storm advisory until Tuesday morning. Average temps will precede this storm (mid 20's) which looks to hit the Gore Range around 1:00 p.m. local time.

As this front moves through temps will drop into the low teens and remain cold through Tuesday. N.W. winds will increase as Monday moves on with wind speeds in the low to mid 20's and gusts in the 30 mph range. Forecasters are calling for 4-8 inches by Tuesday's morning report, however, this storm is riding the under belly of another front in the Wyoming area, which means we could see limited snow totals (2-5inches) in our area depending on the wind and dynamics of both low pressure systems.

I have some bad news about the weather station, I might have to send the whole system back and get a new one, which means no weather link until the new year, BUMMER! But the bright side is we are going to see the weather axis finally shift to the west, bringing unsettled weather for the remainder of the month. The rest of our week looks promising with another quick storm moving through Thursday and our first "Big One" of the year possibly moving in this weekend.

Finally, our esteemed computer guru Kent Van Fleet has built a snow report for Vail and Beaver Creek on the left hand side of this site. Giving snow totals, lift info and acreage of open terrain.

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Vail pounded by 30 inches in a 36 hour period allowing Vail to open chairs 2, 3, and 4 on Saturday
Flags flying in fresh snow in the Vail Valley
Photo courtesy of Reid Greibling 

Vail pounded by 30 inches in a 36 hour period allowing Vail to open chairs 2, 3, and 4 on Saturday

Chairs 7 and 11 expected to open this Wednesday
By Reid Griebling

December 1, 2008 —  An active Thanksgiving weekend came to a close with snow showers lingering into the early morning hours on Monday. Vail received 30 inches in a 36 hour period while The Beav' reported 24 inches as a fore-casted weak system grew into a monster overnight Friday.

Strong N.W. winds brought blowing and drifting snow to mountain passes and closed I-70 for periods on Saturday and Sunday. A welcome site as 60 degree temps were the norm just 7 days ago.

Vail pounded by 30 inches in a 36 hour period allowing Vail to open chairs 2, 3, and 4 on Saturday
Some of the first tracks this 2008-09 Vail Ski Season. Reid's neighbor Karen is pictured above.
Photo courtesy of Reid Greibling 

I was lucky enough to ski on Sunday with my neighbors Tom and Karen, and although it was quite breezy and cold, it was nice to be on skis again.

Vail opened chairs 2, 3, and 4 Saturday and the coverage was nice, according to the crew at the Wildwood outpost, the tentative date for opening chair 7 and 11 is set for Wednesday. Today we saw clearing skies and warm temps as a weak high pressure ridge is building in from the west.

Tuesday night into Wednesday we should see some more snowfall as another system moves into our area from the N.W. Snowfall should range anywhere from 5-7 inches by Wednesday.

Gathered in a ski patrol hut at Wildwood on Vail Mountain
Gathered in a ski patrol hut at Wildwood on Vail Mountain

The weather should be great for the upcoming Birds of Prey ski races this weekend, with mild temps and variable winds. As of now it looks like we will be an a fairly active weather pattern for the next 7-10 days.

Sunday we have another chance for snow as well. We will keep watch.

commnet icon  3 Comments on "Vail pounded by 30 inches in a 36 hour period allowing Vail to open chairs 2, 3, and 4 on Saturday"

 

Traci M. — December 1, 2008

YAY. I'm going to be checking your updates this season, Reid. I hope this week shapes up as predicted to get those back bowls covered. Be well!

 

Reid — December 2, 2008

Thanks Traci, I also look forward to skiing "the back", but I reckon it will take another storm or two to get things covered back there. Also, sorry that your favorite hang out The Lift in Minturn closed its doors, too bad, but Regina tells me that you are now frequenting the Bookworm. Be sure to introduce your self to Terri, she also writes a great blog on RealVail.com Cheers!

 

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