Category: Snow

Windy pattern returns 5/7-5/15

Tomer’s Take: A powerful jet stream returns to the West through 5/15. It resembles April. The future storm track keeps the bulk of precipitation north of Colorado through 5/15. This leaves Colorado and much of the Intermountain West in a windy pattern. Blowing dust is again possible. The best chances for snow stays in northern […]

Dirty snowpack: Most dust since 2009?

Tomer’s Take: The dust storm on 4/22 was one for the books. Dust was deposited on most of the high mountain snowpack – especially the Southern Mountains. This could be the most significant layer of dust since 2009. Here’s a look back at 2009 in a paper I co-authored. Dr. McKenzie Skiles at the University […]

Strong wind returns 5/8-5/15

Tomer’s Take: A minor storm system is spinning through the Intermountain West this morning with rain and snow. A larger storm system and dip in the jet stream is waiting in the Gulf of Alaska. This will drive the pattern across the West between 5/8-5/15. Some places get snow while others get mainly wind. The […]

Snow forecast next 8 days

Tomer’s Take: La Nina continues to anchor the pattern across the West through mid-May. It’s the strongest April/May La Nina since 1999. I’m expecting above normal levels of wind, snow, and rain. Across the Intermountain West, a larger dip in the jet stream and trough of low pressure still possible 5/8-5/13. Conditions might ease the […]

Strongest April/May La Nina since 1999

Tomer’s Take: Nino 3.4 region water temps are currently -1.1C. That’s the coldest water temp in this region since 1999. This anchors the atmosphere and the current pattern continues through May. I’m forecasting an active month of May across the Intermountain West with above normal amounts of rain, snow, and wind. The jet stream is […]

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 […]