Powder Predictor

Huge pre-Thanksgiving storm lined up out west, taking dead aim at Vail, Beaver Creek

Tuesday looks like the deepest day in the Vail Valley

By Reid Griebling
Real AspenNovember 20, 2010

Satisfied? Was it everything you hoped it would be? Vail's opening day had people hooting and hawing all over the front side of Vail mountain as nearly 1,200 acres of terrain were opened.

Many of you haven't had an opening day this good for at least four years. The good news is there is one more gigantic storm lined up out west, pouring heavy rain in California, with blowing snow in areas like the Wasatch Mountains of Utah and the Tetons of Wyoming.

Arapahoe Basin's Pallavicini lift opened this weekend, with access to West Wall, Slalom Slope (pictured here on Wednesday), North Chute, Powder Keg, Radical, Scudder, Challenger and Grizzly Road.
By Casey Day/A-Basin
www.arapahoebasin.com

A large trough of low pressure will begin to move east over much of Utah by this evening, leaving snow, wind and valley rain in its wake. Warm southwest flow will keep our area partly cloudy and warm through the remainder of today (Saturday, Nov. 20).

Most forecasts have Vail and Aspen expecting snow by this evening. However, with warm daytime temps, I don't think we will see any accumulating snow until midday Sunday, Nov. 21.

That being said, when the brunt of this storm hits the Western Slope, we'll be in for one helluva Sunday night as winds will increase into the 30 mph range in the valleys with gusts into the 60 mph range over mountain tops, making winter driving almost impossible.

Monday and Tuesday look to be snow-packed as the trough moves south, bringing with it great dynamics with plenty of moisture from the Pacific. Snow totals for Monday morning (Nov. 22) should be in the 4-8 inch range, with snow falling off and on all day Monday.

On-mountain temps will fall into the 20s, with gusty winds shifting from southwest to northwest. Expect winds in the 15-25 mph range on mountain with gusts in the 35 mph range.

Tuesday, again, looks promising, as this forecaster thinks we will see at least a foot of snow overnight Monday into Tuesday due to the shifting of the winds out of the northwest. Temps for Tuesday will drop into the teens on mountain as colder air will follow this large trough.

Beaver Creek opens just in time to catch this cycle, dropping its ropes on Wednesday, Nov. 24.

Aspen and Snowmass will benefit from this storm early as the southwest flow will bring heavy snow Sunday night into Monday. Once the front moves through, snow will turn to showers for Monday and Tuesday. Expect a storm total of 10-20 inches by late Tuesday with locally higher amounts on southwest facing slopes.

Temps for the Roaring Fork Valley will be much the same as the Vail Valley, with southwest winds keeping things warm until Monday when the front moves through. Winds will gust into the 50's over the peaks with on mountain wind in the 15-25 mph range.

A cold Thanksgiving should be expected in the mountains of Colorado as we see brief clearing for next weekend. Overall, a great cycle to start out the season, and with many resorts opening for the Thanksgiving holiday, it looks like Colorado is the place to be for winter gurus.

Enjoy!


comments: 3 Comments on "Huge pre-Thanksgiving storm lined up out west, taking dead aim at Vail, Beaver Creek"

Reid – Nov. 21, 2010, at 6:56 a.m.

Good morning powder hounds. As expected Saturday night left us with no new snow, however, light snow is falling at 7 a.m. with low pressure sitting right over Colorado. The front has finally moved south and moisture will start spreading into the mountains by mid-morning today (Sun. Nov,21) and continue through the night. I still think that the brunt of this storm will hit us late Monday into Tuesday, but expect great conditions for Monday also. Should be a great opening day at The Beav' Wednesday as the current southwest flow favors Aspen, Snowmass, and Beaver Creek. And as we all know, we have had nearly four feet of snow on the ground since last week. Hoooray for snow!!!

Powder Predictor.

David O. – Nov. 21, 2010, at 9:32 a.m.

Reid, woke up to just a skiff of new snow this morning on the deck in West Vail, but now it's pounding. Full-on whiteout at 9:30 a.m., Sunday.

Checking the new Vail Resorts snow report on Real Vail and it shows 23 inches new at Heavenly in California in the past 24 hours. That's clearly what's on its way.

Should be killer tomorrow and Tuesday. See you on the hill.

Dave O.

Reid – Nov. 21, 2010, at 8:12 p.m.

--UPDATE---

Just after 8pm Sunday evening, winds have been howling in Edwards for nearly 30 minutes. Sustained winds in Wildridge at 40 mph. Highest gust reached 60 mph just a bit ago. Dew point and temp are only 2 degrees off. That means big time snow/blowing snow for much of the night. Traveling will be hazardous if not impossible shortly. Those who get to ski tomorrow, enjoy. More snow on the way Monday and Tuesday. Tell your friends that the mountains of Colorado are OPEN!!!!

Enjoy!! and BE SAFE!!!

Powder Predictor

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Snow Report

  24hr snow mid dpth snow cond.
A-Basin n/a n/a
Aspen n/a n/a closed
BC n/a n/a closed
Breckenridge n/a n/a closed
Buttermilk n/a n/a closed
Copper n/a n/a closed
Crest. Butte n/a n/a closed
Eldora n/a n/a closed
Heavenly n/a n/a closed
Highlands n/a n/a
Howelsen n/a n/a closed
Keystone n/a n/a closed
Kirkwood n/a n/a closed
Loveland n/a n/a
Monarch n/a n/a closed
Northstar n/a n/a closed
Powderhorn n/a n/a closed
Purgatory n/a n/a closed
Silverton n/a n/a closed
Ski Cooper n/a n/a closed
Ski Granby n/a n/a closed
Snowmass n/a n/a closed
Steamboat n/a n/a closed
Sunlight n/a n/a closed
Telluride n/a n/a closed
Vail n/a n/a closed
WinterPark n/a n/a closed
Wolf Creek n/a n/a closed
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