Snowcast: Don't look for more snow until late January

I’m sorry.

It doesn’t make much sense for me to apologize for weather that I can’t control, but it still pains me to deliver a dry forecast for 10 days.

So I’ll say it again: I’m sorry.

While December was a good month for snow, January has been the opposite. Only one storm brought respectable snow (last Friday), and since then it’s been cold, cold, cold — as temperatures have struggled to rise above zero during the day and dropped into the double-digit negatives at night — with little to no measurable snow.

Thankfully, the temperatures are warming to more comfortable levels, and at least the low January sun angle will work with us to keep the snowpack from melting.

The bad news is that a warm and dry ridge will cover most of the western U.S., and this will keep storms away for at least the next week.

Around Jan. 25, this pattern might begin to change and we could see a storm or two during the final few days of the month.

Then again, long-range forecasts are full of uncertainty so your only takeaway is that you’re permitted some hope for snowier weather in the future.

I really wish I had better news. Now would be a great time to wash your car, put a trail map in the freezer or partake in any other superstition to help the snow return.

A snowy February, March and April wouldn’t just be good news for skiers and riders, but also anyone who depends on water during the summer.

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For snow forecasts for ski areas, visit OpenSnow.com.