When To Call In Sick For A Powder Day? From Ignite Boulder #7 on December 10, 2009. By Joel Gratz.

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. les.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 rain.

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 make
(theoretically) 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...
December 8, 2009

11. When to plan your “sick day”
Beginning of season Nope
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 season Nope
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 season Nope
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 season Nope
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 help
www . Colorado Powder Forecast . com
Joel Gratz | @gratzo
Photo: Joel Gratz