3/28/22 Monday 1:30 pm
Before I begin I want to share some good news. CDOT has decided to delay crack sealing operations on 550 north of Red Mountain Pass. They are going to need a period of dry tranquil weather for the road work.
It does not look like that will happen soon. The latest model runs are already showing the potential for snow showers redeveloping on Sunday with another storm or two possible next week.
The slow-moving storm is currently moving onshore in Central California. It is bringing an abundance of moisture in the form of a weak AR event. Showers are already advecting into Arizona and Utah this afternoon well in advance of the front. Rain and snow will move into our area late tonight or early Tuesday.
This morning the three major operational models showed an uptick in total precipitation for this first event. Telluride and Red Mountain will likely be the big winners with this first storm. However, the heavier snow may not occur until mid-Tuesday.
Here are the latest model runs showing the total precipitation through Wednesday.
GFS
Canadian
European
It is very difficult to forecast how much melting snow will fall in the lower and most of the mid-elevation areas. We are essentially dealing with the equivalent of mid-September sun angles right now. It takes a direct discharge of arctic air to accumulate snow below 9,000 feet this time of year.
Here is my forecast for the higher elevation areas.
Purgatory, Rico, and Silverton: 8 to 12 inches
Wolf Creek: 10 to 14 inches
Telluride and Red Mountain Pass: 12 to 16 inches
My next update will be sometime on Tuesday. Thanks for following and supporting the site!
Perhaps an inch of snow….intersection CR 228 and 502 this morning; a few moments of thunder at daybreak.