Category: Meteorology

Looking back at Winter 2021-2022

Tomer’s Take: Winter started late in many areas with warm/dry weather through most of November and early December. December ended strong in the Sierra and across the Intermountain West with a few moderate to strong atmospheric river (AR) setups. These AR’s hit parts of Colorado hard including above normal snowfall (100″) in Crested Butte. Then […]

Season totals, strong wind, and active early May pattern

Tomer’s Take: The storm track continues to favor the West with a few storm systems lined-up through 5/5. The proximity of the jet stream through 5/5 keeps strong wind in the forecast. Infrared satellite shows the active storm track and storm systems over the Pacific. Season Totals 2021-2022 A few highlights: Alta 440″ Wolf Creek […]

Colorado Dust Storm on 4/22: One for the books

Tomer’s Take: Friday 4/22/2022 was a day for the books. Wildfire danger hit “Very Extreme” for the first time in a decade. Dewpoint and relative humidity values dropped into the single digits. Record high of 89 in Denver. All-time April record is 90. A major dust storm developed as wind gusts reached hurricane force for […]

Last gasp of April

Tomer’s Take One last storm major system through 4/24 for the Intermountain West then the pattern shifts favoring the PNW. Precipitation starts as rain in many mountain valleys before changing to snow. Infrared satellite shows the storm track and large Pacific storm system moving into California. The 2nd Pacific storm system takes a more northern […]

Snow and wind through the weekend

Tomer’s Take Western storm cycle concludes with a strong, windy, and slower moving storm system. High to Extreme wildfire risk precedes this storm system. Wind gusts could reach 100mph with blowing dust. A dust layer is possible on the snowpack. After 4/24 the pattern shifts. The storm track moves into PNW and turns more tranquil […]

April snow keeps coming

Tomer’s Take Two storm systems follow a powerful jet stream and deliver heavy snow to parts of the West through 4/24. California’s UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab is reporting a few feet of snow in the last 7 days. The first storm system is smaller and takes a more northern track and only brushes […]

April snow, wind, and cold continue

Tomer’s Take Snow and wind continue in northern CA, ID, UT, WY, CO, NM through 4/15. Favorable WNW jet stream orientation adds orographic enhancement. Temps are below zero with strong wind in the Mountains of Colorado. Next storm hits CA 4/16 then takes a more northern track with heavy snow in the PNW, ID, WY, […]

April powder: snow continues

Tomer’s Take Snow continues in OR, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO and NM. Additional accumulation likely. Powerful jet stream will setup with a favorable WNW orientation and keeps the snow going in UT, WY, CO into 4/14. Strong ridgeline and high peak wind gusts 4/12-4/13 in UT, CO, NM running 30-100mph. Secondary small storm systems […]