picture above: The upper East River valley, December 24. Left to right, Gothic Mountain, Mt. Bellview going into Rustler's Gulch, and the Avery Mountain complex.
Today's Weather, Thursday, January 23: clear and cold, but calm, overnight though a weather change is soon to happen (you know it's been cold when -17ºF does not seem all that bad). Sunny with a slow, steady warm through the morning and then wind starts midday putting an end to that.
Live Station Cameras
The Station Camera, below, is located at the weather station.
--Current view: Gothic Mountain
--The windy.com web page has taken the camera put it on a fast 24-hour run-through. You can clink on the station camera to see it.
-- usually if there is little to no visibility the camera will focus on either the nearby road area, the snow board, the river or other close views
-- you can back track on the view by up to 12 hours by using the time bar at the bottom of the feed
-- there is sometimes a delay or a slow connection. If so, you can go directly to the YouTube page by clicking here
--Current view: Gothic Mountain
--The windy.com web page has taken the camera put it on a fast 24-hour run-through. You can clink on the station camera to see it.
-- usually if there is little to no visibility the camera will focus on either the nearby road area, the snow board, the river or other close views
-- you can back track on the view by up to 12 hours by using the time bar at the bottom of the feed
-- there is sometimes a delay or a slow connection. If so, you can go directly to the YouTube page by clicking here
The Up Valley Camera, below, is located north of the station.
Current view: the upper East River valley
-- you can back track on the view by up to 12 hours by using the time bar at the bottom of the feed
--You can go directly to the camera on the YouTube page by clicking here
Today's weather data and summary for Gothic, January 23, 2025, as of 5:15 p.m. MST
Low temperature: -27ºC (-17ºF)
High Temperature: -10½ºC (13ºF)
Current temperature -13½ºC (08ºF)
Cloud cover: clear
Current wind (mph): 5-10 NW; today's strongest wind at 15 mph NW
Precipitation: sunset January 21 to sunrise January 22: with 0 cm (0") new snow containing 0.00" of water content, 0.00" rain
Precipitation sunrise to sunset today: with 0 cm (0") new snow containing 0.00" water content, 0.00" rain
Precipitation today, currently: none, with 0 cm (0") new snow containing 0.00" water content, 0.00" rain
Current snowpack: 81 cm (32")
Average snowpack, at sunset Jan. 22 is 111 cm (43½")
Current snowpack 27% below average for this date (as of sunrise)
Snow water content (SWE) of snowpack to the nearest half inch: 7½" (last year was 10")
Kettle Ponds, about two miles south of the station, summary for today, January 22: (station data read-out currently down)
Low temperature -16ºC (03ºF)
High temperature -8½ºC (17ºF)
Strongest wind today 35 mph NW
Precipitation data this snow year (starting September 01) as of sunrise January 23
Winters deepest snowpack: 90 cm (35½") on November 27
Total snowfall this winter: 269 cm (105")
Average total snowfall, at sunset, Jan. 22 is 462 cm (182")
Total snowfall is 42% below average for this date (as of sunrise)
Total water content from snowfall (SWE) this winter is 9.36"
Average water content from snow, at sunset, Jan. 22 is 12.22"
Average water content from snowfall is 23% below average
Total rain this snow-year (since Sept. 01): 2.28"
Total precipitation this snow-year: 11.51"
Low temperature: -27ºC (-17ºF)
High Temperature: -10½ºC (13ºF)
Current temperature -13½ºC (08ºF)
Cloud cover: clear
Current wind (mph): 5-10 NW; today's strongest wind at 15 mph NW
Precipitation: sunset January 21 to sunrise January 22: with 0 cm (0") new snow containing 0.00" of water content, 0.00" rain
Precipitation sunrise to sunset today: with 0 cm (0") new snow containing 0.00" water content, 0.00" rain
Precipitation today, currently: none, with 0 cm (0") new snow containing 0.00" water content, 0.00" rain
Current snowpack: 81 cm (32")
Average snowpack, at sunset Jan. 22 is 111 cm (43½")
Current snowpack 27% below average for this date (as of sunrise)
Snow water content (SWE) of snowpack to the nearest half inch: 7½" (last year was 10")
Kettle Ponds, about two miles south of the station, summary for today, January 22: (station data read-out currently down)
Low temperature -16ºC (03ºF)
High temperature -8½ºC (17ºF)
Strongest wind today 35 mph NW
Precipitation data this snow year (starting September 01) as of sunrise January 23
Winters deepest snowpack: 90 cm (35½") on November 27
Total snowfall this winter: 269 cm (105")
Average total snowfall, at sunset, Jan. 22 is 462 cm (182")
Total snowfall is 42% below average for this date (as of sunrise)
Total water content from snowfall (SWE) this winter is 9.36"
Average water content from snow, at sunset, Jan. 22 is 12.22"
Average water content from snowfall is 23% below average
Total rain this snow-year (since Sept. 01): 2.28"
Total precipitation this snow-year: 11.51"
Soil Temperature and Moisture Content for sunrise January 22: (data read-out temporarily down)
For complete data go to the soil temperature and moisture page, which was last updated through January 21 (usually every 5 days), as well as the links from there to the previous two years. Check out the detailed numbers there to see the trends. Any one-day change (at sunrise) is shown below as ↑ going up, ↓ going down, → holding steady.
At 5 cm (2") below surface: soil temperature average 32.3ºF, ↓ soil moisture content 17% →
At 10 cm (4") below surface: soil temperature average 32.8ºF, → soil moisture content 20% →
At 20 cm (8") below surface: soil temperature average 33.2ºF, → soil moisture content 22%, →
At 50 cm (20") below surface: soil temperature average 35.0ºF, ↓ soil moisture content 15%, →
For complete data go to the soil temperature and moisture page, which was last updated through January 21 (usually every 5 days), as well as the links from there to the previous two years. Check out the detailed numbers there to see the trends. Any one-day change (at sunrise) is shown below as ↑ going up, ↓ going down, → holding steady.
At 5 cm (2") below surface: soil temperature average 32.3ºF, ↓ soil moisture content 17% →
At 10 cm (4") below surface: soil temperature average 32.8ºF, → soil moisture content 20% →
At 20 cm (8") below surface: soil temperature average 33.2ºF, → soil moisture content 22%, →
At 50 cm (20") below surface: soil temperature average 35.0ºF, ↓ soil moisture content 15%, →
What is New and other Notes: Looking at this winter's snow and water content against the historic averages (above in the Today's Weather section) it shows that things are quite troublesome as this winter is substantially below average. We are into the "deep winter" period (the three heaviest snowfall months are January through March) but the long-term forecast shows only very limited snowfall through the rest of January. Only one winter in the last 13 has had above average snowfall, so sadly this is becoming the "new normal", not just a few dry winters. February will need some substantial snow.
the recent cold weather finally caught up to past years with a new extreme low for the date on January 10 and then again on the 21st and 23rd, with the lowest highs on the 19th and 20th . While in December there were record high temperatures for the 21st and 22nd and 29th of the month, all added on to the records by winter and the records summary tables.
Update the Daily Winter Averages table through January 15
The average rainfall for August (though only since 1989) is 2.32 inches of water and this past August received 4.83". The highest previously recorded was 4.10" so this year easily topped that record.
For a detailed hour by hour weather forecast for Gothic go to the Colorado Avalanche Information Gothic weather forecast page.
the recent cold weather finally caught up to past years with a new extreme low for the date on January 10 and then again on the 21st and 23rd, with the lowest highs on the 19th and 20th . While in December there were record high temperatures for the 21st and 22nd and 29th of the month, all added on to the records by winter and the records summary tables.
Update the Daily Winter Averages table through January 15
The average rainfall for August (though only since 1989) is 2.32 inches of water and this past August received 4.83". The highest previously recorded was 4.10" so this year easily topped that record.
For a detailed hour by hour weather forecast for Gothic go to the Colorado Avalanche Information Gothic weather forecast page.
Here is the animal activity as of January 23 3:30 p.m.
Bird Sightings: All birds with a √ next to them were seen on this day. Otherwise, they have generally been around here but not seen at this time.
Stellar Jay Gray Jay American Crow Magpie Pine Grosbeak Mountain Chickadee √ Black Capped Chickadee Gray Crowned Rosy Finch √ Red Breasted Nuthatch White Breasted Nuthatch White Tailed Ptarmigan Pine Siskin Red Crossbill |
Animal Sightings: The key for the mammals for today is v=visual, A= audible, t= track
tree squirrel- t Red Fox- v Deer Mouse- Long Tailed weasel- Short tailed weasel- snowshoe hare- t Moose- coyote- pine marten- |
"If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain" -Steven Wright
"The wind shows us how close to the edge we are". -Joan Didion
"Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together". ~Vista M. Kelly
"Only the mediocre are always at their best" -Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley (Al Franken)
"The wind shows us how close to the edge we are". -Joan Didion
"Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together". ~Vista M. Kelly
"Only the mediocre are always at their best" -Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley (Al Franken)
Some pictures of the area:
Gothic Weather Page Index:
Home page (this page- if you lived here you'd be home already)
Current Year, daily Description:
2023 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2023
2022 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2022
2021 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2021
2020 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2020
2019 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2019
2018 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2018
2017 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2017
2016 weather description- the last months of 2016 a written out daily weather summary description
notes on this site: explains what things mean and sampling methods, as well as a short video of the data site
contact- where you can send requests or suggestions about this web site from. Please do. (you don't write, you don't call. Was it something I said?)
Data: summary page and description of data
Daily data, current year- the 2024 data
2023 daily data- daily weather data for the 2023 calendar year.
2022 daily data- daily weather data for the 2022 calendar year.
2021 daily data- daily weather data for the 2021 calendar year.
2020 daily data- daily weather data for the 2020 calendar year.
2019 Daily data- daily weather data for the 2019 calendar year.
2018 daily data- daily weather data for the 2018 calendar year.
2017 daily data- daily weather data for the 2017 calendar year.
2016 daily data- daily weather data for the 2016 calendar year.
weekly weather summary- this page has been discontinued but the data from it can be found above on the Daily Data and Summary table
long term snow- snow totals month by month, and snow-year by snow-year, since fall, 1974 in both centimeters and inches
long term water- month by month and snow-year by snow-year water content of the snowfall
ground cover- the dates and number of consecutive days of snow on the ground for each winter, as well as date of snow melt drop under 100 and 50 cm
soil temperature and moisture- temperature information from underground at four different depths as well as the moisture content of the soil at those depths
daily high temperature => freezing- this table shows the number of days in over the years each winter month in which the daily high reached or surpassed freezing, the temperature when snow would melt
Records: this area will have info on the number of records, such as most snow on a given date, highest temperature and so on
records by winter: showing each winter and the number of record highs, lows, days with most snow etc. since 1974 as well as other info pertinent to that winter.
record summary table: a quick-look summary table of the records by winter
Monthly Data: The title page has all summarized data for each month for November through May starting in the fall of 1974 up until the current listed chronologically. The individual months below of June through October start from the 2000-2001 winter to current, except for snow totals which date back to 1974.
September- summary for September, 2000-2024
October- summary for October, 2000-2024
November- summary for November, 1974-2024
December- summary for December, 1974-2024
January- summary for January, 1975-2024
February- summary for February, 1975-2024
March- summaries for March, 1975-2024
April- summary for April, 1975-2024
May- summary for May, 1975-2024
June- summary for June, 2001-2024
July- summary for July, 2001-2024
August- summary for August, 2001-2024
Other Info- just a heading page for the underlying categories
animals- notes on siting and activity of winter animal life, updated June 02
photos and videos- an archive of photos that were on various site pages (in progress- well, actually little there to see)
ski and road, January 18: There is a broken trail to Gothic as CBMBA set a bike/walking track and a ski track as far as Gothic. New snow has covered it some but the track is easy and in good shape.
The road is now closed for the winter. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the valley except for limited circumstances.
links- links to other web sites people may find helpful
↑ ↓ → º ½ √ ¼
Home page (this page- if you lived here you'd be home already)
Current Year, daily Description:
2023 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2023
2022 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2022
2021 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2021
2020 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2020
2019 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2019
2018 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2018
2017 weather description- daily written summary for the calendar year 2017
2016 weather description- the last months of 2016 a written out daily weather summary description
notes on this site: explains what things mean and sampling methods, as well as a short video of the data site
contact- where you can send requests or suggestions about this web site from. Please do. (you don't write, you don't call. Was it something I said?)
Data: summary page and description of data
Daily data, current year- the 2024 data
2023 daily data- daily weather data for the 2023 calendar year.
2022 daily data- daily weather data for the 2022 calendar year.
2021 daily data- daily weather data for the 2021 calendar year.
2020 daily data- daily weather data for the 2020 calendar year.
2019 Daily data- daily weather data for the 2019 calendar year.
2018 daily data- daily weather data for the 2018 calendar year.
2017 daily data- daily weather data for the 2017 calendar year.
2016 daily data- daily weather data for the 2016 calendar year.
weekly weather summary- this page has been discontinued but the data from it can be found above on the Daily Data and Summary table
long term snow- snow totals month by month, and snow-year by snow-year, since fall, 1974 in both centimeters and inches
long term water- month by month and snow-year by snow-year water content of the snowfall
ground cover- the dates and number of consecutive days of snow on the ground for each winter, as well as date of snow melt drop under 100 and 50 cm
soil temperature and moisture- temperature information from underground at four different depths as well as the moisture content of the soil at those depths
daily high temperature => freezing- this table shows the number of days in over the years each winter month in which the daily high reached or surpassed freezing, the temperature when snow would melt
Records: this area will have info on the number of records, such as most snow on a given date, highest temperature and so on
records by winter: showing each winter and the number of record highs, lows, days with most snow etc. since 1974 as well as other info pertinent to that winter.
record summary table: a quick-look summary table of the records by winter
Monthly Data: The title page has all summarized data for each month for November through May starting in the fall of 1974 up until the current listed chronologically. The individual months below of June through October start from the 2000-2001 winter to current, except for snow totals which date back to 1974.
September- summary for September, 2000-2024
October- summary for October, 2000-2024
November- summary for November, 1974-2024
December- summary for December, 1974-2024
January- summary for January, 1975-2024
February- summary for February, 1975-2024
March- summaries for March, 1975-2024
April- summary for April, 1975-2024
May- summary for May, 1975-2024
June- summary for June, 2001-2024
July- summary for July, 2001-2024
August- summary for August, 2001-2024
Other Info- just a heading page for the underlying categories
animals- notes on siting and activity of winter animal life, updated June 02
photos and videos- an archive of photos that were on various site pages (in progress- well, actually little there to see)
ski and road, January 18: There is a broken trail to Gothic as CBMBA set a bike/walking track and a ski track as far as Gothic. New snow has covered it some but the track is easy and in good shape.
The road is now closed for the winter. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the valley except for limited circumstances.
links- links to other web sites people may find helpful
↑ ↓ → º ½ √ ¼
Thank you to Greg of the Desert Research Institute and Brian of Slopeside Technology for their support in maintaining instrumentation. Also to Dan Jones for equipment assistance and station set-up; for David Inouye and Art Mears and for advice, input and data analysis; and Jessica Lundquist for the online water content of the snowpack (snow pillows).