Whiteout: New weekend-powder for northern resorts, plus ski FREE Sunday at Howelsen Hill

By Jonathan Ingraham January 27, 2023 | updated 3 years ago

SNOW REPORT:

Friday and Saturday are storm days in Colorado. Northern resorts like Howelsen Hill, Bluebird Backcountry and Steamboat look to reap the benefits with snow accumulation totals between 8 to 22 inches, Park Range peaks could see 36 inches, by Sunday first chair. Saturday has a high likelihood of being a powder day up north.

⚠️Winter Storm Warning Northern Mountains⚠️

Prolonged period of snow & blowing snow northern mountains tonight – Sat. Heaviest totals (8-22″) in the northern tier: Rabbit Ears Pass, Cameron Pass, RMNP. Lighter snows (2-6″) I-70 Mountain Corridor – mainly late Friday – Sat. #COwx pic.twitter.com/3x8BMBp3RA

— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) January 26, 2023

The ECMWF forecast from Weather.us shows between 1.2 to 1.6 inches of water-equivalent precipitation (12 to 16 inches of snow at an average of 10:1) falling over several areas in the Park Range, which include Steamboat and Howelsen Hill. The Flattops and northern Front Range mountains near Cameron Pass (8 to 10 inches) could do well for backcountry riders, and respectable totals could soften slopes at resorts along Interstate 70 and US 40 (4 to 6 inches).

Sunday, Jan 29 forecast model — A Weather.us forecast model shows the potential accumulation levels of water-equivalent precipitation as of 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, for Colorado. Depending on the density of the snow, one inch of water is equivalent to 10 inches of snow based on a common rule of thumb ratio of 10:1.

Weather.us

A Weather.us forecast model shows the potential accumulation levels of water-equivalent precipitation as of 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, for Colorado. Depending on the density of the snow, one inch of water is equivalent to 10 inches of snow based on a common rule of thumb ratio of 10:1.

Weather.us

Light snow fell onto the Colorado mountains Tuesday and Wednesday with Steamboat picking up a surprise 7 inches overnight Tuesday and 5 inches overnight Wednesday. Steamboat is at 141% of average this season, ahead of regularly first place Wolf Creek in the eastern San Juans.

Additional accumulations between 1 and 5 inches happened Wednesday for resorts north of I-70.

As next week start, venturing south for fresh snow seems best as another storm rolls in favoring the Elks, West Elks, San Juans and southern Sawatch mountains.

SNOEWS:

Winter X Games Aspen: This weekend is X-Games at Buttermilk. Chinese American and Olympic gold medalist skier Eileen Gu, Japanese snowboarding brothers Kaishu Hirano and Ayumu Hirano, and veteran superpipe skier David Wise will join the world’s best skiers and snowboarders at Buttermilk starting Friday, Jan 27-29, 2023, for the three-day games.

Howelsen Hill FREE Sunday: Sunday Funday is taken to an entirely new level as Howelsen Hill hosts Free Skiing every Sunday throughout the winter season. Take your Ski Free ticket to Mountain Tap Brewer and enjoy a free pint or popcorn, plus Tube Howelsen is a new and exciting option for those that want another way to slide.

A young female skier receives help with her lift ticket by another skier at Howelsen Hill in Routt County, Colorado. Howelsen Hill is the oldest continuously operated ski area in Colorado.

Courtesy, Noah Wetzel/Howelsen Hill

Reservations are not required for ski Free Sundays, just visit the ticket office and pick up your free ticket before hitting the slopes.

Upcoming festivals: January is the season for winter festivals and some of the most popular are on tap in the coming weeks.

UllrGrass in Golden (Jan. 27-29)
Rio Frio Ice Fest (Jan. 27-29)
Lake City Ice Festival (Feb. 4)
Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series (Tenn. Pass, Feb. 4)
Lake San Cristobal Brew Ski (Feb. 11)
20th Annual Leadville Loopet (Feb. 25)
Copper Mountain Dew Tour 2023 (Feb. 24-26)

Colorado Ski Country USA: Ski Passport sales close for the season at midnight January 31. Eighty days at 20 CSCUSA resorts for $59 dollars. Students in 3rd to 6th grades are eligible and they do not need to be Colorado residents.

Starting Friday, your Ski Passport purchase comes with a free youth neck gaiter, courtesy of Phunkshunwear.

AP Colorado Ski Report

Arapahoe Basin — Wed 5:35a packed powder machine groomed 46 – 46 base 126 of 147 trails 87% open, 1253 acres, 9 of 9 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.
Aspen Highlands — Wed 4:09a 1 new packed powder 44 – 60 base 116 of 122 trails, 95% open, 1044 acres, 5 of 5 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-3:30p Sat/Sun: 9a-3:30p.
Aspen Mountain — Wed 4:09a 2 new powder machine groomed 36 – 40 base 76 of 76 trails, 100% open, 675 acres, 7 of 8 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-3:30p Sat/Sun: 9a-3:30p.
Beaver Creek — Wed 5:35a 4 new powder machine groomed 50 – 50 base 165 of 169 trails, 98% open, 25 of 25 lifts, Mon-Fri: 8:30a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.
Bluebird Backcountry — Wed Reopen 01/26 machine groomed 35 – 45 base 20 of 25 trails, 90% open, 1080 acres Mon/Thu/Fri: 8:30a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p Open Thu-Mon.
Breckenridge — Wed 5:50a 1 new variable machine groomed 44 – 44 base 185 of 187 trails, 99% open, 2735 acres, 35 of 35 lifts, Mon-Fri: 8:30a-4p Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.
Buttermilk — Wed 4:13a 1 new packed powder 31 – 33 base 43 of 44 trails 98% open, 452 acres, 5 of 8 lifts, Mon-Fri: 8:15a-4:30p Sat/Sun: 8:15-4:30p.
Cooper — Wed 5:52a 1 new packed powder machine groomed 26 – 40 base 64 of 64 trails 100% open, 480 acres, 5 of 5 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.
Copper Mountain — Wed 5:10a 2 new machine groomed 47 – 47 base 152 of 155 trails, 98% open, 23 of 23 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.
Crested Butte — Wed 5:36a machine groomed 53 – 53 base 115 of 160 trails 72% open, 1241 acres, 15 of 15 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.
Echo Mountain — Wed 8:25a machine groomed 18 – 18 base 3 of 8 trails 38% open, 2 of 3 lifts, Mon-Tue: 10a-5p; Wed-Fri: 10a-9p; Sat: 9a-9p Sun: 9a-5p.
Eldora — Wed 5:38a machine groomed 24 – 24 base 55 of 65 trails, 85% open 355 acres, 10 of 10 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.
Granby Ranch — Wed 8:25a packed powder machine groomed 41 – 41 base 51 of 51 trails 100% open, 5 of 5 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.
Hesperus Ski Area — Wed Reopen 01/26 packed powder machine groomed 54 – 60 base Thu/Fri: 4p-9p; Sat: 10a-9p Sun: 10a-5p; Open Thu-Sun.
Howelsen Hill — Wed 8:24a machine groomed 55 – 55 base 18 of 19 trails 95% open, 3 of 3 lifts, Mon-Fri: 11a-8p; Sat/Sun: 10a-4p.
Irwin — Wed 8:53a powder machine groomed 74 – 120 base 75 of 100 trails, 75% open
Kendall Mountain — Operating, no details Fri: 11a-4p Sat/Sun: 11a-4p; Open Fri-Sun.
Keystone — Wed 5:34a variable machine groomed 40 – 40 base 130 of 130 trails 100% open, 3145 acres, 20 of 20 lifts, Mon-Thu: 8:30a-4p Fri: 8:30a-8p Sat: 8:30a-8p Sun: 8:30a-4p.
Loveland — Wed 4:48a 1 new packed powder machine groomed 43 – 43 base 83 of 94 trails 88% open, 1369 acres, 10 of 10 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.
Monarch — Wed 5:33a 1 new powder machine groomed 50 – 50 base 67 of 67 trails 100% open, 800 acres, 5 of 7 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.
Powderhorn — Wed 5:37a 4 new packed powder machine groomed 69 – 69 base 54 of 54 trails 100% open, 5 of 5 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.
Purgatory — Wed 5:17a powder machine groomed 57 – 61 base 105 of 105 trails 100% open, 1650 acres, 8 of 11 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.
Silverton Mountain — Wed 6:14a 3 new powder 60 – 120 base 69 of 69 trails, 100% open, 26819 acres, 1 of 1 lift Mon-Fri: 9a-3:30p Sat/Sun: 9a-3:30p.
Snowmass — Wed 4:09a 3 new powder machine groomed 37 – 55 base 98 of 98 trails 100% open, 3342 acres, 20 of 20 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-3:30p Sat/Sun: 9a-3:30p.
Steamboat — Wed 5:32a 7 new powder 72 – 100 base 171 of 171 trails, 100% open, 2963 acres, 21 of 21 lifts, Mon-Wed: 8:30a-4p Thu/Fri: 8:30a-4p/5:30p-8:30p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p/5:30p-8:30p.
Sunlight — Wed 5:35a 1 new machine groomed 44 – 44 base 77 of 77 trails 100% open, 3 of 3 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.
Telluride — Wed 5:01a 2 new powder machine groomed 44 – 50 base 138 of 147 trails 94% open, 1452 acres, 16 of 17 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.
Vail — Wed 5:34a 3 new machine groomed 60 – 60 base 274 of 273 trails 99% open, 32 of 33 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-3:30p; Sat/Sun: 9a-3:30p.
Winter Park — Wed 5:14a 2 new packed powder machine groomed 57 – 58 base 157 of 168 trails, 93% open, 2633 acres, 21 of 24 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.
Wolf Creek — Wed 6:57a machine groomed 92 – 104 base 133 of 133 trails 100% open, 1600 acres, 9 of 10 lifts, Mon-Fri: 8:30a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.

Tags Colorado Denver Gazette Gazette Outthere Colorado Powder Skiing Skiing Colorado Snowboarding Whiteout

Jonathan Ingraham

Reporter

RMNP announces temporary closures to protect nesting raptors

Piper Russell

piper.russell@outtherecolorado.com

Updated 11 minutes ago

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) has announced that temporary raptor closures are now in effect. Each year, RMNP officials initiate temporary closures in specific areas of the park to allow birds of prey to nest undisturbed. The closures will remain...

Piper Russell

Reporter

Divided Colorado Supreme Court rejects defendant’s claim of deficient DNA investigation

Michael Karlik

michael-karlik@denvergazette.com

Updated 31 minutes ago

The Colorado Supreme Court decided on Tuesday, by 4-2, that a defendant failed to allege how uninvestigated, inaccessible DNA evidence would have shown he was wrongly convicted. When Jamale D. Townsell filed a petition from prison seeking postconviction relief, he...

Michael Karlik

Reporter

Colorado to Italy: Colorado Springs-based figure skater Amber Glenn endures short-program disappointment

Brent Briggeman

brent-briggeman@denvergazette.com

Updated 30 minutes ago

Tracking Coloradans in the Winter Olympics Colorado Springs-based figure skater Amber Glenn failed to complete her triple loop in Tuesday’s short program, with judges ruling it an invalid element, and she slid to 13th place. Glenn did qualify for Thursday’s...

Brent Briggeman

Reporter

Arc Thrift Stores’ ‘Feed Colorado’ unveils program expansion

Debbie Kelley

debbie-kelley@denvergazette.com

Updated 34 minutes ago

An expansion of a popular program at Arc Thrift Stores will bring more opportunities for Colorado residents to do something good for others. Starting next Monday, all of Colorado’s 38 retail Arc stores – including the four locations in Colorado...

Debbie Kelley

Reporter

Avalanche at the Olympics: Necas driving the bus for Czechia; United States to face Sweden

Evan Rawal

evan-rawal@denvergazette.com

Updated 28 minutes ago

The playoff portion of the tournament has come and gone with no upsets on the men’s hockey side of things, setting up a great slate of quarterfinal games for Wednesday. No matter what happens in the quarterfinals, at least two...

Evan Rawal

Reporter

Mark Kiszla: Could Olympic excess kill what makes Cortina special?

Mark Kiszla mark.kiszla@denvergazette.com

mark.kiszla@denvergazette.com

Updated 15 minutes ago

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – As the lights of the old ski jump hill from the 1956 Olympics shine through his kitchen window, Italian mountain climber Mario Dibona pours a beer and gently places his prized possession on the table. “Gruppo...

Mark Kiszla mark.kiszla@denvergazette.com

Reporter

Colorado Senate presses transportation director to increase funding for Morgan County roads

Marissa Ventrelli

marissa-ventrelli@denvergazette.com

Updated 23 minutes ago

A coalition of state Senators approved a resolution drafted by the Morgan County Board of Commissioners urging the Colorado Department of Transportation to invest more money into fixing roads. Some 70% of Morgan County’s roads have been labeled by the...

Marissa Ventrelli

Reporter

Widespread snow totals of 18-plus inches expected across Colorado’s mountains this week

Spencer McKee

spencer@outtherecolorado.com

Updated 2 hours ago

Winter weather is roaring into Colorado this week, with big snow and a drop in temperature expected. According to mapping from the National Weather Service, the most likely snowfall scenario will mean at least 8 inches of snow across the...

Spencer McKee

Reporter

4 dead, 29 injured in I-25 crash involving 30 cars near Pueblo

Alexander Edwards

alexander-edwards@denvergazette.com

Updated 2 hours ago

Northbound Interstate 25 remained closed south of Pueblo late Tuesday afternoon following a 30-vehicle crash that killed at least four people and injured 29 others, according to Colorado State Patrol. The closure extends from Exit 91 to Exit 94. There...

Alexander Edwards

Reporter

Ski area expected to get 45″ of snow over 5-day stretch in Colorado

Spencer McKee

spencer@outtherecolorado.com

Updated 2 hours ago

The most significant winter storm of the season thus far is underway in Colorado, with the National Weather Service calling for a potential of more than 48 inches of snow on some peaks. Obviously, a winter storm of this nature...

Spencer McKee

Reporter