Even though our patrol season is done for the winter, it looks like we’re going to have a wintry week next week. A large closed low pressure system looks to (hopefully) bring a lot of springtime moisture to our front range patrol zone. The wind direction is forecasted to be predominantly from the east, not the west, for the first half of next week. This is always a good sign. Between Monday May 5 and Wednesday May 7 (with the exception of the UK Met Model as discussed below), here are the various model snow forecasts:
19” – European Model
14” – Canadian Model
13” – UK Met Model
10” – American Model
7” – Icon Model
The UK Met Model sees a different scenario, with snow continuing into the morning of Friday May 9, and the number above is its prediction for the entire week. Fingers’ crossed this comes in as predicted or more! And, considering that the temperatures will just barely be below freezing, this will be great base building snow for our late spring / early summer ski season!
-Jordan (Friday 5/2/25 afternoon)
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.
