Summit County is bracing for its first legitimate snowfall of the season.
Already this month we’ve seen a few light dustings of snow on the high peaks. That could change tonight, when the National Weather Service predicts several inches above 10,000 feet, and maybe a dusting of snow down to 9,000 feet.
A winter weather advisory is good through 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Conditions could be treacherous on high mountain passes like Loveland Pass and Berthoud Pass.
With a week left to go, September is shaping up to be wetter than average.
Just three-tenths of an inch and we’ll tie with 2017 for the most precipitation in a decade, according to the official record-keeping station in Dillon. September 2013 and 2014 were extremely wet, claiming 3.8 and 2.5 inches of rain, respectively.
September rainfall (via Dillon 1E weather station)
- 2025… 0.97 inches (as of Sept. 22)
- 2024… 0.79 inches
- 2023… 0.65 inches
- 2022… 0.93 inches
- 2021… 0.61 inches
- 2020… 0.41 inches
- 2019… 0.51 inches
- 2018… 0.87 inches
- 2017… 1.25 inches
- 2016… 0.78 inches
- 2015… 0.91 inches
- 2014… 2.56 inches
- 2013… 3.86 inches
- 2012… 0.78 inches
- 2011… 1.3 inches
- 2010… 0.4 inches
It is a welcome change of pace from August, when Summit weathered one of its driest stretches in a decade. Rainfall was less than half of what we usually get.
This is about the exact time that noticeable snow started falling last year. Local ski areas tell Krystal 93 they are ready to make snow as soon as the weather cooperates, meaning several consecutive days with below-freezing temperatures at night and relatively cool daytime temps.
Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland could open as soon as October. Breck and Copper open Nov. 7.