Here we go again… Colorado east of the divide has not been getting as much snow as normal, but now we are into a pattern of arctic cold fronts, keeping things in the single digits or below zero… go one coming up at the beginning of next week…

Last several runs of the long range models are in agreement that the global upper air pattern will change beginning Sunday. An upper trough from the Gulf of Alaska will move across CO on Sunday and bring an arctic front down from the north. This combination will bring upslope flow and snow to the Plains and Foothills beginning Sunday morning and should persist into Monday morning. Typically, there is a brief period of moderate to heavy snow just after the arctic front passes, and then the snow becomes quite light in the cold arctic air, so right now I would expect 1-2 inches of snow on the Plains, and 2-4 inches in the foothills from this system. Since there is some upper level support with the upper trough, we could see more snow, but will need to wait for higher resolution models to chime in later this week.

The global upper level pattern then puts a high amplitude upper ridge over the eastern Pacific and up into Alaska, which brings very cold air from the Yukon pouring southward into the Intermountain West. This flow will keep the very cold arctic air in place through much of next week. In addition, weak disturbances in the upper flow will produce periods of light snow towards the middle and end of next week. Snow amounts are expected to be light in the cold arctic air, but there will be little melting during the day of any snow on the ground. Temps from Sunday through at least next Saturday will be similar to over New Years, with high temps in the single digits to teens, and low temps near or below zero. This looks to be an extended period in arctic air, so take any necessary precautions to keep pipes from freezing and for pets normally left outside. Wind chills could be well below zero most of next week.

I’ve been following the Paris weather in advance of my visit on the 14th, and have been noticing that many of their nights have been in the 20’s (f), which is not as normal as the 30’s that they usually get.

Maybe temps in the 20’s will be welcome, versus the below zero that we have been having here?