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Storm on Track for Colorado

By May 7, 2023No Comments

Posted May 7, 6:39 am MT 5:39 PT

Snow Stake Cams

 

MSLP Surface Chart thru May 12

All Snow 

3 Day Total Snowfall West Coast

5 Day Total Snowfall Rocky Mountains

Forecast Discussion 

We are tracking the storm that we hope will be a repeat of last year’s May 21st dump in Colorado.  I would be nice to get it earlier in May while we still have most of Arapahoe Basin open.  The timing on this storm is becoming clearer, and the strength is weakening, but there is still a lot of time for this storm to fall apart or gain strength.  

Looking at the most recent 500 mb chart, you can see the trough forming with some decent vorticity (red) centered in Colorado.  When you compare that chart to the cycles that preceded this upcoming storm, you can see that it most resembles the first chart (below).  That storm did produce double digit totals for A-Basin, Aspen, Telluride and Wolf Creek. 

Thursday System Last 4 Cycles

This storm is completely cut-off from the jet stream, which is consistent with the past 4 cycles.  Below is the projected jet stream map for Thursday.  You can see the jet stream is flowing around a rather large Low-pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska, stays in Canada and flows around another Low-pressure system south of Greenland.

 

Timeline

This is a slow-moving storm that will hit the Pacific Northwest in the afternoon tomorrow and spin its way down the coast reaching Lake Tahoe late Tuesday night. There is not much moisture in the system for the West Coast or Utah which can be observed on these Euro ensemble charts, for Lake Tahoe and Alta, below (click to enlarge).

Once the storm passes Utah, it picks up moisture, from the Gulf, on its way to Colorado, that will likely produce thunderstorms for Denver and the front range.  Check out the chart for Aspen–a lot of potential moisture, but presently about 0.4 tenths of an inch, which would be in the 4-8 range.  The storm hits Colorado Wednesday night, which is good timing for the coldest air. 

More on this tomorrow and I am just about finished with the next cycle comparison video.  

May 21st Last Year

Open Resorts

California

Palisades, Heavenly, Mammoth

Utah

Snowbird, Solitude and Park City 

Colorado

Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, Winter Park 

Forecasted Areas

Pacific Northwest Cascade Mountains

Crystal MountainMount Hood MeadowsTimberline49 Degrees North,  BachelorMt Baker,

Lake Tahoe Sierra Mountains

HeavenlyPalisades TahoeKirkwoodDodge RidgeDonner Ski Ranch

Utah Wasatch Mountains

AltaPark CityDeer ValleyBrightonSnowbirdBrian Head

Colorado Rocky Mountains

AspenAspen HighlandsSnowmassVailBeaver Creek,  Winter ParkKeystoneArapahoe BasinBreckenridgeCopper MountainPowderhornSki CooperTellurideCrested ButteSilvertonWolf CreekEldoraLoveland

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