Winter in Colorado, 2012-2013 (Denver, Colorado Springs: airport, stations, location)

[CosmicWizard]

The weather guy actually said this on the Friday evening weather report....only .03 of an inch in Grand Junction so far, but they got alot more in the four corners area where .38 of an inch was recorded. You know it's dry when .35 of an inch is considered to be alot more.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

The weather guy actually said this on the Friday evening weather report....only .03 of an inch in Grand Junction so far, but they got alot more in the four corners area where .38 of an inch was recorded. You know it's dry when .35 of an inch is considered to be alot more.

Considering also that most areas of southern Colorado are suffering a 4.5"-9" precipitation deficit for calendar year 2012, it would take just about that 0.38" EVERY DAY until the end of the year to make up the deficit. That ain't gonna be happening. The water experts that I talk to tell me that it will now take at least THREE times the normal amount of snowfalll for the rest of winter and early spring to get water levels just back to normal by next summer. The chances of that happening are infinitesimally small. So, I think it fair to say, at this point, that some pretty severe water problems are already "baked in the cake" for summer 2013.

[jazzlover]

Double H is right. While I drive US550 frequently, I hold great respect for its hazards. That said, I will take those hazards any day over the winter driving idiots that populate the I-70 Sacrifice Zone from Denver to Grand Junction.

As for "one went off," that's true and it doesn't pertain to a casual slide-off in the ditch--it means somebody slid off one of the multi-hundred-foot dropoffs or got taken there by a snowslide. The latter is what I really worry about when driving 550 in the winter--there are dozens of slide runs from Ouray to Purgatory (Durango Mountain to the newbs) and it only takes one big one to run when you're in its path to snuff ya. When the slide danger is high, I spend as much time looking up the side of the mountain above the road as I do at the road itself.

It does sound like southwest Colorado got some decent snow out of this storm, about the first in about 9-10 months.

[jim9251]

Latest totals, first number is rain (or moisture content), second snow:

WESTERN COLORADO,

BLACK CANYON NATIONAL PARK, 0.22, 4.6.
2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COLLBRAN, 0.32, 4.2.
CORTEZ, 0.32, 3.0.
CRESTED BUTTE, 0.29, 5.0.
DOVE CREEK, 0.68.
17 MILES WEST OF GLADE PARK, 0.32, 3.6.
8 MILES EAST OF IGNACIO, 0.18, 3.0.
MASSADONA, 0.21, 3.0.
OURAY, 0.10, 1.3.
PALISADE, 0.17.
1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF PAONIA, 0.31.
6 MILES SOUTH OF MESA, 0.14, 2.0.
1 MILE SOUTHEAST OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, 0.25, 4.1.
3 MILES NORTHEAST OF DURANGO, 0.82, 7.5.
5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DURANGO, 0.87, 11.3.
1 MILE SOUTH OF GLENWOOD SPRINGS, 0.18, 3.2.
7 MILES NORTHWEST OF HOTCHKISS, 0.25, 4.3.
4 MILES WEST OF PAGOSA SPRINGS, 0.48, 7.1.
TELLURIDE SKI, 0.25, 4.0.
1 MILE NORTHWEST OF VAIL, 0.05, 1.2.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Double H is right. While I drive US550 frequently, I hold great respect for its hazards. That said, I will take those hazards any day over the winter driving idiots that populate the I-70 Sacrifice Zone from Denver to Grand Junction.

I am 39 and have driven in blizzards (including the blizzard of 1997) on I-25 along the front range urban corridor and on I-70 going from Denver to Summit County for over 20 years and have never really had a problem. To be honest I prefer the major interstates over the less traveled highways any day.

[CosmicWizard]

Josseppie wrote: To be honest I prefer the major interstates over the less traveled highways any day.

Not me! When there is snow on the highways, I prefer the comfort and safety of my recliner, in close proximity to the wood stove, watching a DVD on the TV, with a beer in hand.

[jim9251]

The thing about driving a snowy or even wet from rain interstate is EVERYONE is in a hurry, and people just don't know how to drive in bad weather. Give me a two lane highway anytime.

Anyway, back to weather:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.* TIMING... FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.* SNOW ACCUMULATION... POSSIBLE SNOW AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES.* SNOW LEVEL... NEAR 5000 FEET EARLY TUESDAY EVENING... BUT LOWERING TO THE VALLEY FLOORS.* WINDS... GUSTY WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH FROM THE WEST SHIFTING TO NORTH WILL OCCUR ON TUESDAY.

[CosmicWizard]

I also saw some single lows predicted for the Grand Valley later this week. Looks like winter is starting to catch on.

[Josseppie]

There are a few strong storms coming to Colorado this week that will give the mountains a lot of snow, 2-4 feet. One of the low pressures will track across southern California and Las Vegas then go into New Mexico. If it goes east over Albuquerque that would be a famous Albuquerque Low and would give Pueblo significant snow accumulation. Its to early to know if that will happen but if it does it would be like the storm last December 19 that gave Pueblo over a foot of snow. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

[jim9251]

The following are 24 hour snowfall estimates from mountain snotel
observation sites ending around 11 am monday 17dec2012.

Northwest colorado mountains:
Elkheads/park range: 5 to 12 inches.
Flattops: 3 to 8 inches.
Central colorado mountains:
Grand mesa: 3 to 4 inches.
Gore and elk mtns: 3 to 5 inches.
West elk and sawatch range: 3 to 6 inches.
Southwest colorado mountains:
Uncompaghre plateau: 4 inches at columbine pass.
San juan mtns: 1 to 4 inches.