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Steamboat Springs — The snowstorm that moved through the Yampa Valley on Monday and Tuesday may not have produced the 2 feet originally forecast, but it was a welcome site nonetheless at the Steamboat Ski Area.

"The storm actually weakened a little bit - probably more than we expected," said Grand Junction National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Chamberlain. "The moisture wasn't quite there."

Steamboat residents woke up to heavy snow Tuesday morning, when the area was under a snow and blowing snow advisory. A winter storm warning that had been issued Monday was canceled late Monday night.

Tuesday morning's snow gave way to sunny skies at about noon, but several bursts of heavy snow moved back through the area late Tuesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service observer in Steamboat Springs reported receiving 4 inches of snow at his downtown home by late Tuesday afternoon. About 7 inches fell downtown on Monday.

As often is the case, the highest snow totals were found atop Mount Werner.

The system dumped more than 18 inches of snow at the summit of Mount Werner, which has received about 56 inches of snow since Oct. 10.

"Everybody has big smiles on their faces," Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. spokeswoman Heidi Thomsen said Tuesday.

The Steamboat Ski Area opens Nov. 22, which is Scholarship Day. Lift tickets are $15, and all proceeds go to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club's scholarship fund. Season passes are not valid on Scholarship Day.

"Mother Nature is picking up right where she left off last winter, and conditions are looking fantastic in anticipation of opening day," Ski Corp. President Chris Diamond said in a news release.

Ski Corp. employees were making snow around the clock since last Thursday, but they were forced to cease snowmaking operations Tuesday morning because of higher temperatures. The snowmaking will continue as the temperature drops.

Thomsen said Tuesday that it's still too soon to know which ski trails will be open on the first day of the ski season.

"We should know more in the next couple days," she said.

The National Weather Service is forecasting that another system will move into the area Thursday night and Friday.

"Right now it looks fairly weak," Chamberlain said.

High temperatures for the rest of the week are expected to be in the upper 30s and low 40s. Chamberlain said another storm system could be in the area in time for opening day. That system is expected to move into the area Tuesday from the Pacific Northwest.

"It looks like there might be some potential there," Chamberlain said.

- To reach Matt Stensland, call 871-4210

or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com