Powder Compass

Atlas · Colorado · CO

Powderhorn

9,850′ summit · 1,650′ vert · 1,600 acres · avg 250″/yr

Strong bet — Mar 1–15

Delivered 24″+ in 8 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 8 of 20 · typical 15", most land 11"–37"

Before you book

This bet missed 2 of the last 10.

None of the last 10 came in under 8″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Powderhorn · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 15 30 45" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 2 of 10 · 5 busts Long shot 9" 44" 2024 0" 2025 · 4 of 20
Nov 16–30 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 15" 64" 2019 0" 2012
Dec 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 3 busts Long shot 15" 44" 2009 1" 2010
Dec 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 Long shot 24" 60" 2021 4" 2011
Jan 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 13" 81" 2023 0" 2010
Jan 16–31 30″+ 4 of 10 · 3 busts Coin flip 24" 47" 2017 4" 2025
Feb 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 18" 76" 2024 0" 2015
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 6 of 10 Solid odds 20" 42" 2026 1" 2016
Mar 1–15 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 15" 100" 2019 6" 2007
Mar 16–31 30″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 20" 75" 2020 0" 2015
Apr 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 Solid odds 14" 52" 2026 0" 2015
Apr 16–30 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 13" 48" 2024 0" 2012

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

Grand Mesa's quiet family hill — storm snow off the world's largest flat-topped mountain, mellow gradients, and surprisingly good trees. Modest but charming.

Western Slope logistics keep it off most itineraries; it fits naturally en route between Colorado and Utah on I-70. Grand Junction is the base. Midweek it's deserted.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Powderhorn's odds move on the Mar 1–15 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.