How much snow is reported in the Colorado mountains? | Whiteout

Fear not, skiers and snowboarders, the first major mountain snowstorm is expected to finally arrive in Colorado on Friday, and its snowy contents are a sight to behold for the state after the prolonged drought since late August.

While no resorts or resorts are open yet, the forecast is promising and should bring ski resorts some snow in the upper mountain regions and better conditions for snowmaking.

Unfortunately, almost no measurable precipitation was recorded in the Colorado mountains during the first 15 days of October, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. The last date that measurable precipitation (between a trace and 0.5 inches) fell in the state's mountains was September 22 – the first day of fall.

However, the storm's track is currently focused primarily on the southern mountains, bringing snow Friday night into Sunday evening.

Recap:

Most of Monday was another warm and dry day in the mountains with highs in the 50s and 60s from Steamboat to Silverton, with spotty showers bringing little precipitation across the southwesterly flow into the San Juan Mountains.

Copper Mountain's high was 55 on Monday, according to AccuWeather.com.

Forecast:

There will be mostly calm, dry and sunny weather Tuesday and Wednesday, but next Thursday the dome of high pressure that has been parked between the Four Corners and Texas/Oklahoma Panhandles will move east, allowing a sinking low pressure to move in to the southwest.

Moisture will move in Wednesday ahead of Friday's main low pressure system, bringing a higher chance of rain and mixed rain/snow showers and lower temperatures in Colorado. According to the NWS, in Boulder there is a 20% chance of rain on Wednesday and Wednesday evening, and in Silverton there is a 30-40% chance of rain.

Highs on Thursday will only reach the upper 40s and lower 50s in the mountain valleys below 9,000 feet, while snow could potentially accumulate on the peaks, particularly in the southwest mountains. The European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' synoptic composite forecast shows a descending low pressure area, cut off from the main jet stream to the north, moving southwest over southern Nevada, which will push moisture into Colorado on Friday.

Temperatures may initially limit snow accumulations Friday afternoon, but temperatures are expected to become more favorable Saturday – the high in Silverton is expected to be 43 – down to 8,000 feet, allowing for potentially heavy snow accumulations above that mark.

ECMWF's high-resolution IFS model has forecast snow amounts between 10 and 16 inches, possibly up to 2 feet, for the San Juan Mountains by sunrise Monday. Further north and east, snow totals of between 6 and 12 inches are possible in the central range and 2 to 6 inches in the northern range.

The map above shows total snow depth, not total snowfall. However, since there is currently little to no snow on the ground, the forecast map shows the total snow depth from ground base, with additional higher numbers being added as the winter progresses following additional snow events.

Snow showers will continue into Sunday night and Sunday before the low moves east. Don't be surprised if the Silverton Mountain Ski Patrol takes advantage of what may be well-filled snowfields high up on the mountain and posts photos of the freshly fallen snow.

Long range:

Next week will bring more fall weather Monday through Thursday with high temperatures back into the 40s and 50s and more dryness.

Editor's Note: Once some ski areas and resorts open for the season, the Whiteout Ski Area Conditions Map will be updated semi-daily with information on conditions, open trails and 24-hour snow totals.

Today's 24-hour snow totals from ski resorts in Colorado:

Arapahoe Basin – Closed seasonally

Aspen Highlands – Closed seasonally

Aspen Mountain – Closed seasonally

Beaver Creek – Closed seasonally

Breckenridge – Closed seasonally

Buttermilk – Closed for seasonal reasons

Cooper – Closed seasonally

Copper Mountain – Closed seasonally

Crested Butte – Closed seasonally

Echo Mountain – Closed seasonally

Eldora Mountain – Closed seasonally

Granby Ranch – Closed seasonally

Hesperus – Closed for seasonal reasons

Howelsen Hill – Closed seasonally

Kendall Mountain – Closed seasonally

Keystone – Closed seasonally

Loveland – Closed seasonally

Monarch – Closed seasonally

Powderhorn – Closed for seasonal reasons

Purgatory – Closed seasonally

Silverton – Closed seasonally

Snowmass – Closed seasonally

Steamboat – Closed seasonally

Sunlight – Closed for seasonal reasons

Telluride – Closed seasonally

Vail – Closed seasonally

Winter Park – Closed seasonally

Wolf Creek – Closed seasonally