It’s time to grab your skis and break out your arctic gear.  With a powerful system coming in from the north, it’s going to be a cold (highs around zero) and snowy (6-12”) weekend.  Let’s talk snow first, and then temperatures.

Snow starts Friday evening and ends in earnest midday on Saturday, with another inch or two falling through Monday.  Here are the model forecasts of the weekend snow totals, which are fairly consistent:

12” – Canadian Model

11” – WRF and RDPS Models

9” – UKMet Model

8” – American and Icon Models

6” – European and NAM Models

As for temperatures, here are the numbers from the Canadian and American Models, respectively:

Saturday high: 3 degrees; 5 degrees

Sunday high: 5 degrees; 10 degrees

Coldest temperature (which will be Monday night): -14 degrees; -6 degrees

Stay warm, and enjoy the fresh powder!

-Jordan (Friday 1/17/25 morning)

Geeky Notes:

References to the American Model are to the American (GFS) Model grid including Brainerd Lake with an average elevation of 9,439’.  References to the Canadian Model are the Canadian (GDPS) Model grid including Brainerd Lake with an average elevation of 10,253’.  References to the WRF Model are the CAIC WRF Hi-Res Model point forecast for Eldora Ski Area with an elevation of 9,189’.  References to the European Model are to the European (ECMWF) Model on a point with my cursor at my best estimate of Eldora Ski Area.  For big picture overviews, I tend to rely on the American Model, not because I think it is the most accurate, but because (i) it is free and (ii) I like its interface.