Highs temperatures at many lower-elevation base areas like Purgatory, Steamboat and Vail climbed over 40 degrees Monday.

Luckily the sun is at a low enough angle this time of year and some high-cloud cloud cover kept snow melt to a minimum.

Today through Friday is going to be approximately the same as Monday; cloud cover, low sun angle and high temperatures in the low- to mid-40s. 

Two areas of low pressure are working their ways toward the western United States currently. One low pressure system — the southwest storm — spinning off the California coast will push some moisture into the San Juans and southwestern Colorado on Wednesday and potentially deliver 1-2 inches for the northern San Juans (Silverton, Telluride). The second system — the northwest storm — is spinning south of Alaska currently and is forecast to follow a path into Washington state.

The beginnings of a classic upslope storm is starting to shape up for Christmas weekend. Those two areas of low pressure are slated to merge somewhere over Colorado on Saturday.

Depending on where the low pressure system parks, snow accumulations will vary, but snow will fall and the chances for at least an inch are high, 3-6 inches is probable and 6+ inches possible, for the eastern and southern mountains.

More details will be known Wednesday as the low pressure off California moves closer toward the coast and will begin following the subtropical jet stream inland. 

Today’s 24 hour snow total from Colorado resorts:

Arapahoe Basin – 0″

Aspen Mountain – 0″

Aspen Highlands – 0″

Beaver Creek – 0″

Breckenridge – 0″

Buttermilk – 0″

Cooper – 0″

Copper Mountain – 0″

Crested Butte – 0″

Echo Mountain – 0″

Eldora Mountain – 0″

Granby Ranch – 0″

Hesperus – 0″, Opens mid-Dec.

Howelsen Hill – 0″

Kendall Mountain – 0″, open weekends

Keystone – 0″

Loveland – 0″

Monarch – 0″

Powderhorn – 0″

Purgatory – 0″

Silverton – 0″, Heli-only, guided Dec. 28

Snowmass – 0″

Steamboat – 0″

Sunlight – 0″

Telluride – 0″

Vail – 0″

Winter Park – 0″

Wolf Creek – 0″