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Weekend storm leaves behind a foot of snow in Steamboat

Scott Franz
The weekend snowstorm brought about a foot of snow to Steamboat Springs and the surrounding mountains through Sunday. Snow is expected to continue Monday before skies clear and temperatures rise Tuesday.
Scott Franz

— The fast moving storm that blew into Steamboat Springs on Saturday morning left behind a foot of snow in some areas of town and a welcomed 14 inches of powder on Mount Werner three days before Scholarship Day. But warmer temperatures and clear skies are expected for the rest of the week when Steamboat Ski Area opens.

Local weather observer Art Judson said Sunday afternoon that he recorded 11.7 inches of snowfall at his home from the storm that began at about 2 a.m. Saturday. Judson said his home on Anglers Drive so far this month has received 21.7 inches of snow, already an inch above Steamboat’s November snowfall average of 20.2 inches in town.

“It was a good storm, and it maxed out on the Steamboat area,” Judson said.



But the foot of snow and accompanying ice from the weekend storm was blamed for a number of car accidents. Steamboat Springs Police Department Officer Evan Noble said police were called to a noninjury crash on Routt County Road 129 early Sunday morning near Steamboat Springs Airport after a vehicle traveling south left the roadway and rolled down an embankment. He said the driver was traveling too fast on the icy and snow-packed roads. Law enforcement agencies Saturday also responded to about eight accidents across Routt County, including a rollover on Colorado Highway 131 in Oak Creek Canyon that resulted in minor injuries.

Driving conditions are expected to improve this week as skies are forecasted to clear Tuesday morning, ushering in warmer temperatures leading up to the start of the ski season.



A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction on Sunday predicted Steamboat would get another slight taste of snow throughout the day Monday, with 1 to 3 inches of additional snow expected through Monday afternoon. Meteorologist Matthew Aleksa said higher elevations were to receive an estimated 3 to 6 inches of snow.

“The snow will gradually decrease Tuesday morning, with a high pressure ridge bringing in drier weather and warming temperatures,” Aleksa said. “Thanksgiving day looks like it’s going to be nice.”

The Weather Service is calling for warming temperatures and a high in the mid-40s with partly cloudy skies on Scholarship Day in Steamboat and again Opening Day on Thursday.

Aleska said the Yampa Valley and surrounding mountains likely will be hit by another storm beginning Thursday night that will continue through Saturday.

“It’s hard to predict this far out how much snow it will bring, but it looks like it may bring a good accumulation for the mountains, at least,” he said.

To reach Scott Franz, call 970-871-4210 or email scottfranz@SteamboatToday.com


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