For 12/15/09: For Today: We are waking up to some cold clear conditions this morning with the tail end of the moisture from yesterday clearing the area faster than expected. This has opened the door for the return of that stubborn inversion layer and this morning we are getting a good taste. Mostly sunny skies will dominate through the better part of the day but look for some high clouds to  mix with the blue skies.

Overnight lows were about 10 degrees colder than I expected and 30 degrees colder than yesterday with Crested Butte dropping to -10 degrees this morning and Gunnison to -13 degrees. Sunny skies are set to dominate so look for it to warm on the ridges and higher elevations to the low 20’s but the lower valleys will stay much colder with the trapped cold air. Look for another very cold clear night tonight with lows dropping to the negative high teens.

Shifting systems through Thursday and Friday will help mix out or at least weaken the inversion layer but it has setup pretty well this morning and may really require some big changes to give it up altogether. As a result expect cold mornings and warmer days through this week at the higher elevations with just plain colder days for the lower valleys. Layer up but get outside.

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