As we round out March and head into Spring Break weekend, get ready for a busy weekend on the slopes! Skiers and snowboarders need to expect busy I-70 drives, long lift lines, and crowded beginner and intermediate slopes.
Light snow is expected to come to the Continental Divide Friday afternoon and last into Friday evening. This will bring light snow to Monarch Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Loveland. Snow totals through Friday evening for all resorts will stay light and generally under 2 inches. Temperatures at Monarch and Loveland will generally stay in the 20s from Friday through Sunday, while Breckenridge and Keystone will be in the 30s.
A few flurries are possible on Saturday for Breckenridge, Keystone, and Loveland, but some of the better light snow might fall over Monarch. Sunday looks dry across all Colorado ski areas.
Weekend travel is always busy on I-70, but this weekend, in particular, will be extra crowded. The smart move would be to be at or east of Denver no later than 6 am, as anytime after that will involve a lot of waiting as traffic bottle-necks at Floyd Hill.
Now that’s we’re into the end of March, beginner ski and snowboarders should know how the snow will react. Warmer days will leave snow stiff, crunchy and possibly icy in the morning until the sun and warmer temperatures start softening things up by the mid-morning. The easiest skiing will be from 10 am till 2 pm. After 2 pm, we’ll start seeing the sun dip behind the trees and the cold air and shadows will start icing down the runs.
Sunscreen is going to be vital this time of year unless you like that sunburned raccoon look around your goggles. Even an hour of sunshine on acres of white snow will leave your face sunburned, so be sure to layer up right when you get to the resort.
