Aspen Highlands
CO · 11,675 ft summit · ASE
NWS Grade
2025–26 Season Snapshot
Storms This Season
35
storms tracked
Season Snowfall
57"
calibrated total
Best Storm
37/100
Tracked
Current Snowpack
10"
542:CO:SNTL
Avg Daily Rate
1.6"/day
storms with data
Season SWE
4.4"
snow water equivalent
NWS Forecast Accuracy
Good news — NWS underestimates snowfall here by -75%
Aspen Highlands typically receives 3.8× the NWS forecast amount. When NWS says 6 inches, you should expect closer to 23 inches. StormDrop calibrated estimates account for this.
Critical limitation: Only 2 storms, both on same date with identical atmospheric conditions. Strong underprediction bias (NWS off by 100% both times) driven by density mismatch, not magnitude bias per se. Wind (21.9–24.2 mph, moderate) and rain risk (none) do not appear to explain variance. High confidence in underprediction direction; low confidence in magnitude due to small sample. Recommend collecting more spring/shoulder-season data to confirm pattern.
Based on 2 verified storms · SNOTEL ground truth (542:CO:SNTL)
Storm History — 2025–26 Season
Apr 17 – Apr 18
NWS Forecast
1.2"
Calibrated
2.4"
Actual (SNOTEL)
Pending
Density: Dense
Rate: 2.4"/day
Apr 17 – Apr 17
NWS Forecast
0.8"
Calibrated
1.6"
Actual (SNOTEL)
Pending
Density: Dense
Rate: 1.6"/day
Apr 15 – Apr 15
NWS Forecast
0.1"
Calibrated
0.2"
Actual (SNOTEL)
Pending
Density: Dense
Rate: 0.2"/day
Show 32 more storms
Apr 15 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 15 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 15 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 15 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 0" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 14 – Apr 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 0" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 2" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 2" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 3" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 4" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 4" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 4" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 4" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 4" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 4" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 4" calibrated
Apr 3 – Apr 3
Level 1 · 4" calibrated
Apr 2 – Apr 2
Level 1 · 0" calibrated
Mar 15 – Mar 15
Level 1 · 0" calibrated
Mar 15 – Mar 15
Level 1 · 1" calibrated
Local Knowledge
TGR Community IntelStorm Day Strategy
Highlands excels on storm days and maintains excellent conditions. Wind-loaded areas like Temerity receive natural refills throughout the day. Aspen Mountain and Highlands are best-in-Rockies for skiing low snowpack; snowmaking on top of Aspen is critical. On heavy snow days, expect 'classic skier mayhem' at bowl opening. Time spring corn harvesting for mid-morning in Temerity. Drive home logistics can be brutal after major storms (10+ hour drives reported).
Terrain Opening Patterns
Thunderbowl
Opens: Early season opener weekend
Frequently closed for races and training after initial opening
Bowl runs
Opens: Mid-December, around 12/10-12/14
Requires avalanche control work; patrol pulls water from limited snowmaking to enable opening
Powder Stashes
Temerity
Bowl area
Excellent for powder days; wind provides 'free refills'; spring conditions develop melt/refreeze
Bowl terrain
Upper mountain
Some of the deepest snow in the season possible; requires skin access for some runs
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Based on 28 community reports · 2018-02-16 → 2026-03-03
Road & Access
CO-82 / Independence Pass / Aspen
OpenHistorical Patterns
Temperature effect: Both storms occurred at identical temperature ranges (3.6–28.0°F, avg 12.6°F) with identical underprediction; marginal data suggests spring shoulder-season storms with near-freezing average temperatures may produce lower-density snow not captured by NWS density assumptions.
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