Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — High temperatures in the 70s in Steamboat Springs on Friday and Saturday will evoke football weather and usher in the first weekend of the NFL season.

The National Weather Service in Grand Junction forecasts a high of 74 degrees Friday followed by 78 degrees Saturday. The next chance for thunderstorms isn’t expected until Monday.

Hikers planning to ride the Steamboat Ski Area gondola during the next few days to trek further up Mount Werner and glimpse the early fall color may want to bring a jacket. The interactive weather map published by the National Weather Service anticipates temperatures above 9,000 feet on the ski mountain will be in the low to mid 60s with mild breezes.

The gondola is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday through September. Gondola tickets are valid all day, weather permitting. Tickets are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the summer ticket office in One Steamboat Place, or in the Information Center in Gondola Square. Adults ride for $20, youngsters ages 6 to 12 cost $10, and children 5 and younger ride the gondola for free.

The National Weather Service was forecasting Friday that a cold front that parked over the Wyoming/Colorado border Thursday night would begin to retreat southward allowing drier air to dominate northern Colorado.

As the cold front moves southward Friday, it may bring chances of precipitation to the southern Colorado mountains but will block significant monsoon moisture currently in Arizona from reaching Colorado.

To reach Tom Ross, call 970-871-4205 or email tross@SteamboatToday.com