Winter in Colorado, 2012-2013 (Denver, Pueblo: assess, place, square)

[CosmicWizard]

ohazco wrote: Thanks to this miserable summer I've never seen so many people ready for winter.

Summer was unusually hot and humid with little rain, but since the beginning of September, the weather in Grand Junction has been absolutely delightful. I'm hoping it hangs on for a few more months. My winter wish is for copious amounts of snow in the high country and rain in the valleys.

[ohazco]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

ohazco wrote: Thanks to this miserable summer I've never seen so many people ready for winter.

Summer was unusually hot and humid with little rain, but since the beginning of September, the weather in Grand Junction has been absolutely delightful. I'm hoping it hangs on for a few more months. My winter wish is for copious amounts of snow in the high country and rain in the valleys.

Well it looks like your end of I-70 lucked out with this cold front at least then!

[Josseppie]

I just looked up the forecast and I think the chances of my first snowfall this weekend looks good.

This is from the NWS in Pueblo for Pueblo:

• Tonight A chance of rain before 1am, then a chance of rain and snow between 1am and 3am, then a chance of snow after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 31. East southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

• Saturday A chance of snow before 9am, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

• Saturday Night A slight chance of rain before 10pm, then a slight chance of snow between 10pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

[jim9251]

Winter weather forecaster is here! Photo taken a few minutes ago.

[CosmicWizard]

Here in Grand Junction, the mean temperature for the first 10 days of October is running .20 BELOW the long term norm. If this trends carries thru the entire month of October, it would be the first month with a below average mean temp since May 2011. Every month since May 2011 has been above the long term norm, usually by a significant amount. Perhaps the 17 month heat wave is coming to an end.

[jim9251]

Received almost an inch of rain since 3am, some heavy downpours but mostly a steady soaking rain. It's cooled off to the 50's also. Good thunderstorm now, I can see snow on the Grand Mesa and West Elk Range when the clouds clear. Western slope is under a winter weather advisory for tonight and Saturday. Much cooler weather next week. FINALLY!

[Josseppie]

^

The cold front hit the front range as well. Pueblo just had a thunderstorm go thru and its now in the 50's from the 80's yesterday.....

[Mike from back east]

Accuweather's long range forecast for this winter is out, but I cannot find it on the accuweather site, but I do have this piece in Reuters with a map predicting above average snowfall in the Colorado mountains. Good if it happens this way.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Accuweather's long range forecast for this winter is out, but I cannot find it on the accuweather site, but I do have this piece in Reuters with a map predicting above average snowfall in the Colorado mountains. Good if it happens this way.

I found this map:



The link: NYC, Philly, DC: Winter 2012-2013 will be "Snow" Joke

[Mike from back east]

I found this newer map, showing a smaller area of above average snowfall.

Excerpt from link:
Snowy Early, Cold in the Rockies
An active start to winter is expected in the central and southern Rockies with above-normal snowfall forecast for much of the region.
"We do expect above-normal snowfall for places like Albuquerque and just south of Salt Lake City. Denver will probably be near normal," Pastelok added. By the middle to latter part of the season, the active storm track and thus snowstorms should ease. However, a secondary peak in snow is normal for the Rockies late in the winter into the spring, so the region will not be entirely free of snow through late February and March. With significant snowpack established this winter, temperatures will be held below normal.

Forecasts are a lot like war plans; once the first shot is fired, the plan usually goes out the window.....