The document discusses when to call in sick for a powder day based on weather forecasts. It recommends taking sick days 2-3 days in advance when winds are favorable for orographic snowfall and clearing your schedule up to a week ahead. Last-minute sick days are also acceptable when storms are imminent. The author advises trusting their forecasts over other meteorologists and looking at wind direction and weather models to maximize powder day potential.

1. When should I call in sick for
a Powder Day?
www . Colorado Powder Forecast . com
Joel Gratz | @gratzo
Photo: Caleb Wray
Skier: Joel Gratz

2. Q: When should I call in sick for a Powder
Day?
A: Any day you can!
http://arturovasquez.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/cubicle.jpg

3. Q: Why should you trust me?
A: I’m a stylish meteorologist
who is addicted to snow.

4. Q: Why should you be wary of
other meteorologists?
A: They get unreasonably excited about

5. When to plan your “sick day”
Beginning of
???
season
One week ahead ???
Two-three days ???
One day ???
! POWDER DAY !

6. Long Range Planning
Yes No
Pregnancy Seasonal weather
forecasting
Marriage 300 inches of average
annual snowfall doesn’t
(theoretically) make
your powder day

7. The winter forecast
2007-2008
“...predicting below-average snow for
Vail.
He’s not buying a season pass.
[He] even passed on the four pack.”
- Klaus Wolter, climatologist for NOAA
November 13, 2007
http://www.vaildaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071113/NEWS/71112030&template=printart

8. Three weeks later at Vail...
December 8, 2007
Photo: Joel Gratz
Skier: Megan Gilman

9. The winter forecast
2009-2010
“Despite a cool and somewhat snowy start
to December, I don't hold out much hope
for
snow in the next two months,
especially at the highest elevations.”
- Klaus Wolter, climatologist for NOAA
December 2, 2009
http://blogs.westword.com/ontheedge/2009/12/local_weather_guru_not_much_ho.php#more

10. Six days later at Crested
Butte...

11. When to plan your “sick day”
Beginning of
Nope
season
One week ahead ???
Two-three days ???
One day ???
! POWDER DAY !
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-to-draw-cartoons-2.jpg

12. One Week
I was about 50% “correct” at one-week forecasts.
2008-2009, www.coloradopowderforecast.com/keep-me-honest/

13. When to plan your “sick day”
Beginning of
Nope
season
One week ahead Clear meetings
Two-three days ???
One day ???
! POWDER DAY !
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-to-draw-cartoons-2.jpg
http://mac.pfung.net/images/blog/happy-ical-day.png

14. All about Orographics
Upslope is good: Downslope is bad:
Air cools, condenses, Air warms, dries, and
and clouds are born. clouds are killed.
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/model/

15. “Good” wind directions
East
RMNP
North
Steamboat
Northwest
Summit Co. West
Aspen Vail
Southwest
Telluride
Wolf Creek

16. When to plan your “sick day”
Beginning of
Nope
season
One week ahead Clear meetings
Two-three days Start coughing
One day ???
! POWDER DAY !
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-to-draw-cartoons-2.jpg
http://mac.pfung.net/images/blog/happy-ical-day.png
http://www.sunilbhanot.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/pic_mr_yuck.gif

17. Organize weather & friends
1 2 3
http://www.uswx.com/us/wx/
co/
http://www.wired.com/images/article/magazine/test2007/mp_greatestgadget_f.jpg

18. When to plan your “sick day”
Beginning of
Nope
season
One week ahead Clear meetings
Two-three days Start coughing
One day Take Emergen-C
! POWDER DAY !
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-to-draw-cartoons-2.jpg
http://mac.pfung.net/images/blog/happy-ical-day.png
http://www.sunilbhanot.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/pic_mr_yuck.gif
http://www.bevnet.com/images/reviews/emergen_c/Images/20083261216110.emclogo.jpg

19. Photo: Joel Gratz
Skiers: Devon Scott
Chuck Pratt
Andy Dionne
Megan Gilman

20. Look at the wind
direction
Take off any day you
can
I’m happy to
www . Colorado Powder Forecast . com
Joel Gratz | @gratzo
Photo: Joel Gratz