There is currently a Winter Weather Advisory in effect across large swaths of central and northern Colorado and Steamboat Resort is forecasted to get upwards of 12″ over the next 24 hours.

That’s great news for early season conditions across the state and as of today, there are 5 ski areas open for business in Colorado. More are set to open next week with Vail scheduled to open on Friday. If things keep up, Colorado is looking at one of its best starts in recent history, especially for the northern and southern mountains including such as Telluride and Steamboat.

Now, let’s get to the weather.

This particular storm is the result of a northwest flow that is delivering significant moisture from the northern Pacific and should bring with it wintery temps and up to a foot of snow for the high elevations of the northern mountains of Colorado including the Flattops, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Park Range. Mountains in the central portion of Colorado will also see significant snowfall, albeit with forecasted totals falling in the 4-10″ range. Expect resorts further west on I-70 to see significant totals such as Vail and Beaver Creek. Further snow in the San Juans, expect the totals to be somewhere in the 2-4″ range.

NOAA Short Term Forecast: Steamboat

NOAA Short Term Forecast: Vail

NOAA Short Term Forecast: Breckenridge

NOAA Winter Weather Advisory: Colorado

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MST SATURDAY…

* WHAT… Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches with locally higher amounts over a foot. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph above treeline.

* WHERE… Elkhead and Park Mountains, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains and Flat Tops.

* WHEN… From 9 PM this evening to 6 PM MST Saturday.

* IMPACTS… Travel could be very difficult. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility, especially on ridge tops.

Ready to make some ski plans for the 20-21 season? With flexible cancellations via Ski.com’s Refundable Ski Vacation Packages – RSVP, our Mountain Travel Experts can make sure you book your winter vacation with confidence. Get a free quote today.Â