Colorado Mountains to See Snow on New Year’s Day, Warmth Follows

UPDATE: Colorado’s mountains are gearing up for snowfall this New Year’s Day, but warm temperatures will quickly follow, raising concerns about snowpack stability. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service indicates that snowfall will begin after 11 a.m. on January 1, with some areas experiencing showers as early as 5 a.m.

Conditions are expected to deteriorate as the day progresses, with a mix of rain and snow hitting lower elevations. This is particularly troubling as parts of the central mountains could see rain wash over snow, impacting the fragile snowpack. “To start seeing some rain on our snowpack this early on, it’s certainly not ideal,” warned National Weather Service Hydrologist Erin Walter.

The impending storm follows a weekend snowstorm that brought significant accumulation to the Western Slope mountains, with totals ranging from 1 to 12 inches in the northern mountains and 1 to 10 inches in the central mountains. Resorts like Steamboat Springs, Winter Park, and Aspen saw between 6 to 12 inches of fresh snow, according to data from OpenSnow.

Despite the promising start to the year, the snowpack remains critically low, currently at the third percentile or 50-70% of average levels, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Walter noted that while the storm could bring some moisture, it lacks the cold air necessary to produce significant snowfall.

Snowfall is expected to continue through late Friday morning, but projections indicate totals of only 1 to 6 inches across most mountains. The forecast for the weekend suggests a shift to dry, cloudy weather, with temperatures reaching the mid-40s to mid-50s in the central mountains, significantly above normal for this time of year.

Looking ahead, meteorologists anticipate additional storm opportunities around January 5, January 7, and January 9-11. While there’s potential for further snow, it’s too early to predict how significant these storms could be.

Walter emphasized the importance of patience: “We tend to accumulate snow through March in Western Colorado, so there’s still time.” However, the immediate concern remains the impact of warm weather on the current snowpack and the limited terrain open for skiing.

As Colorado welcomes the new year, residents and visitors alike are reminded to stay alert for shifting weather patterns that could affect snow conditions in the coming days. The situation remains fluid, and updates are expected as the week progresses.