For 12/25/08: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from CBTV. We are on track for the big snowmaker we were expecting with the southern wave settling into the area overnight. The dynamics are all in place with a first southern shot giving us 4” overnight with much more expected by tomorrow when moisture shifts clear of the area.

Temperatures on the front end will remain mild with the southern influence with a high today expected of 28 degrees in Crested Butte while Gunnison reaches just a bit higher to 31 degrees this afternoon. We can expect high gusting winds with colder windchill values making it feel significantly colder at times so be sure to bundle up. Overnight lows will hold in the teens for tonight but the colder core of the northern pattern will bring much colder all around temperatures for Friday and the weekend.

Grand Junction radar is showing some good concentrated moisture moving slowly through the area and a Blizzard warning will stay in effect for the West Elk Mountains through tomorrow morning. Travel will be sketchy as the snow really gets started through this afternoon so plan accordingly and be prepared. We will likely see well over a foot by the time this system has run it’s course but keep doing that snow dance to keep the favorable components in place.

Look for a complete Crested Butte and Gunnison weather report, 24 hour trends and real time weather information now available at WWW.CBTV.TV.