Powder day on the way for President's Day weekend

A potentially big snowstorm is heading into Colorado just in time for the busy President’s Day weekend.

While Saturday and Sunday will be mostly sunny and snow-free, forecasters say a system is headed in from the west on Sunday night, and ski areas from Vail to Aspen can expect up to nine inches of new snow by Monday morning.

Longer-range forecasts are calling for a favorable snow track throughout much of next week. Opensnow.com predicts Vail and Aspen will see 2-4 inches Sunday night and another 3-5 inches Monday morning.

Most resorts in the northern and central mountains have enjoyed as much as two feet of new snow in the last week, providing by far the best ski conditions in what’s generally been a below-average season across most of the state.

Crested Butte's North Face is open for business.
Natan Bilow

Opensnow.com is calling for 3-6 during the day Sunday as far north as Crested Butte, where the vaunted North Face terrain just opened for the first time this season.

Vail, meanwhile, is bracing for big weekend crowds for the holiday weekend. The town has implemented parking restrictions, and season ski pass restrictions will be in effect Saturday and Sunday at Vail and Beaver Creek.

The Epic Local Pass, Merchant Pass, Guest Fee and Community Relations passes will all be blacked out on Saturday and Sunday. Snow riders holding one of those passes can purchase a discounted day pass at any ticket window (price varies depending on the pass product). Restrictions will be lifted in time for the anticipated powder day on Monday.

Beginning Saturday, Vail moves to its full spring operating schedule, meaning the majority of front-side lifts will close at 4 p.m. instead of 3:30 p.m., the Back Bowls and Game Creek Bowl will close at 3:30 p.m. instead of 3 p.m., and Blue Sky Basin will close at 3 p.m. instead of 2:30 p.m.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center rates the backcountry snow-slide danger as “considerable” throughout much of Colorado’s high country. Use extreme caution all weekend and check conditions before heading out any backcountry gates.

A Keystone ski patroller, reportedly skiing on his own time near Wolf Creek, died in an avalanche on the Thursday -- the sixth slide death of the season. The Summit Daily News also reported an avalanche in Mushroom Bowl, in Vail's backcountry, injured a snow rider on Thursday.