Winter in Colorado, 2012-2013 (Denver, Pueblo: restrictions, near, difference)

[jim9251]

This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern utah and western
colorado.

.day one...today and tonight

areas of light snow will end across the northern colorado mountains
from about aspen to leadville northward this morning. Additional
accumulations will be an inch or less. However...mountain passes
and other area highways may still be icy and snowpacked from the
snow yesterday. Light snow around meeker...craig...and steamboat
springs will also be ending early this morning.

.days two through seven...thursday through tuesday

a weaker weather system brings a chance of light snow on
thursday afternoon and night...mainly to the northern mountains
of western colorado.

A stronger storm arrives sunday afternoon and continues into
monday...but there is uncertainty on the impact it will have for
the region. The best chance of snow appears to target the northern
mountains.

[jim9251]

The meteorological winter season (Dec., Jan., Feb.) is over. For Grand Junction, the season ended with an average temperature of 24 degrees, which is 18th coldest ever. 2010 was colder with an average temp. of 22 degrees.

Here are other seasonal avgs: Rifle, 22.7; Montrose, 25.5; Durango, 21.6; Cortez, 25.2; Craig, 13.7; Meeker,16.3; Aspen,18.9; Vernal,14.4.

[CosmicWizard]

^^^^^^I'll provide a little more detail for Grand Junction. The mean temp for Dec-12, Jan-13, & Feb-13 was 24.04, compared to the normal mean temp for that 3 month period of 29.05. That is a whopping 5.5 degrees below normal for the entire 3 month period. A cold winter indeed. The mean temperature breaks down as follows.

MonYear--AvgHigh--NormAvgHigh--Variance
12-2012---35.90------38.90-----------(3.00)
01-2013---25.65------36.61-----------(10.97)
02-2013---41.50------45.39-----------(3.89)

MonYear--AvgLow--NormAvgLow--Variance
12-2012---16.03------17.48----------(1.45)
01-2013---2.97-------15.61----------(12.65)
02-2013---22.18------22.68----------(0.50)

MonYear--AvgMean--NormAvgMean--Variance
12-2012---25.97------28.19------------(2.23)
01-2013---14.31------26.11------------(11.81)
02-2013---31.84------34.04------------(2.20)

This cold spell comes on the heels of 18 consecutive months having mean temperatures above the norm. The mean temp for the 18 month period running from 6-2011 thru 11-2012 was 3.04 degrees above normal. Even with this 3 month cold spell, the mean temperature over the past 21 months is still 1.84 degrees above normal.

[jim9251]

Another winter storm will move through the area today and tonight, then exist to the east Monday morning. Snow Advisories are in effect beginning this afternoon and lasting until 9 am Monday. Up to a foot of snow will fall over the higher northern and central mountains, with 5 to 10 inches over the San Juans. Between 5 adn 10 inches of new snow is expected over the Flat Tops Wilderness and Grand Mesa. From 4 to 8 inches of new snow will accumulate over the Uncompahgre Plateau and Abajo/La Sal mountains. Widespread rain, with rain and snow mixed tonight, is expected over the valleys.

[DOUBLE H]

News11Grand Junction is reporting nasty driving conditions in the Eagle/Vail area. The weather people were predicting six to eight inches of snow out of this system in the central mountains. Just a small rain shower in the Grand Junction area overnight.

[jim9251]

.25" of rain. Too bad my LOCAL news is from Denver and I have NO idea what the conditions around me are, but by golly, I know all about places 400 miles away. GRRRRRRRRRRR.

[Josseppie]

A quick snowstorm hit Pueblo this afternoon just as rush hour started. I thought I would post a video.

[Josseppie]

I want to add that it snowed for 2-3 hours and when it was over there was about 4 inches if snow in my backyard. Add the snow that melted and I think I got about 6 inches of snow. Not bad for a very fast moving storm.

[jim9251]

***Winter Storm Watch for Most Mountain Areas Friday into the Coming Weekend*** A rather dry southwest flow will be overhead through Thursday with unseasonably warm temperatures and breezy conditions at times. A strong low pressure system currently off the Pacific Northwest Coast will dig southeastward along the California Coast and move into the Desert Southwest later Friday into Saturday. This storm system will bring an increasing chance of significant mountain snowfall and a valley rain/snow mix beginning Friday morning. The potential exist for 10-20 inches of snow in the mountains especially across the southern/central mountains.

[Josseppie]

KRDO TV Colorado Springs/ Pueblo is reporting that there is a good chance for a strong spring storm this weekend in southern Colorado. That includes but not limited to Pueblo and Colorado Springs.