Powder Alert: Snow On The Way For Thanksgiving

It's about time the West has received some much-needed precipitation!

After weeks of little to no snow in the West, Its go time! You may have been mountain biking in the Sierras, Idaho, Utah and the Cascades this week, but that is going to change quickly, with many waking up to powder on Thanksgiving. This is the storm we have been waiting for, and although its late in the month, it will most certainly be a Snovember very soon.

This week is going to yield totals in the 2 + foot range for most of the Sierra and 20-30 + inches for some spots in Northern Utah. Some models are calling for 30-40 inches in the Cottonwood Canyons if everything lines up perfectly. The Tetons are likely to score 15-25 inches by Saturday morning as well.

Turkey week is going to be a game changer for many areas that have seen very little snowfall this season but don't worry, November snow is not necessarily a sign for the rest of the season. I like to call this a bonus month where locals can skirt the mountains on skins, enjoy less crowded slopes, and get their feet back in shape. Any powder days in October and November are a great bonus. Last season, Colorado and Utah had little to no snow aside from a surprise 20 inches in September. Confidence is buildig that powder conditions will exist for many ski area openings this week.

In Colorado and New Mexico, significant early season snowfall in October and November have put their season to date averages well above normal.

This is especially true for areas close to the Front Range of Denver. Current snowpack here is above 130% of normal in some areas. Breckenridge has nabbed a whopping 86 inches this season! Vail has seen 56 inches.Wolf Creek scored in October allowing the mountain to have a powder day for opening. Meanwhile, in New Mexico, where hardly any snow fell all last season, storms hammered the mountains earlier this month. Some rumors are that they saw more snow in November than they did for the first 1/4 of the 17/18 season.

Powderchaser Steve skinning at Breckenridge on November 4th with Eric Rasmussen's pup Lola

Other notable winners this season have been the higher elevations of Montana resorts, upper elevations of interior BC near Revelstoke, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village in Alberta, and New England. New England has scored several deep pre season powder days with photos that have even the snobbiest of powder hounds wishing they had chased there (Me included).

Light to moderate snow will be falling In the Sierra for your wake up Turkey Call. Snow levels will be above the valley floor so if you're really anxious to get into some wet stuff, hike up to above 7,000 feet. Early estimates are 5-11 inches at upper elevations of most of the Sierra. Mammoth may see higher totals especially at the summit with its higher elevation and heavier moisture dropping south. That system will also be impacting the Cascades where moderate snow will be falling Wednesday/Thursday. That system drops moderate snow into most of the Rockies. It's possible that a few areas nab an excess of 6 inches such as Crested Butte, Aspen or the Cottonwoods in Utah (Big Cottonwood is favored initially). The Cascades will start to get deep by late Thursday.

The models show signficant Sierra moisture coming in Thursday night/Friday.

Temps will cool Thursday/Friday before warming again Friday (Snow levels may rise). Early estimates from the models are an additioanl 7-15 inches at the highest elevations on top of what fell Wednesday/Thursday. This system may slightly favor the northern Sierra in places like Squaw or Sugar Bowl on the north side of the lake. Total weekly snowfall will be in the 12-26 inch range (Highest peaks along the Crest see the upper end). The bases may end up with significantly less snow due to warmer temps.

Total snowfall for the Sierra through Saturday morning. Image WX Bell.

That system takes direct aim at Idaho by Friday morning. Sun Valley who sits in a valley cut off from northern storms may score some double digits by late Friday. SW winds will pump moisture into Ketchum before turning more westerly late. West winds will feed a stream of moderare moisture into the Tetons by Friday late AM. Moderate to heavy snow will fall primarily Friday PM through early Saturday AM. The Tetons are likley to nab an additinal 6-12 inches during this period (Storm #2). Targhee is open, and JHMR starts spinning on Saturday! You can storm ski Friday and grab more freshies Saturday.

Meanwhile, in the Wasatch where limited snow has fallen in November, a direct hit impacting many ski areas will happen mid morning Friday through late Saturday.

Models show upwards of 2-3 feet for the Cottonwoods. Some models have 3–4 feet if your looking for a miracle Turkey week.

I am also bullish for the northern Wasatch from Beaver Mountain (Logan), to Powder and Snowbasin (Powder benefits better from the NW wind direction and shoud overperform). Some models pump out 40 plus inches for Alta. I hesitate to put that card in my prediction but if Snovember miracles really happen at least Its in this post. Expect a solid 15-20 inches elsewhwere for northern Utah at upper elevations. Alta opens this weekend and Brighton is already spinning lifts. Park City will be wrapped in white for the weekend and is spinning lifts today!

Total weekly snowfall for Utah through Sunday morning. Image: WX Bell

Finally, Colorado gets some more attention primarily from a teaser storm for Thanksgiving (3-6) and a deeper storm for late Saturday through Saturday. Expect close to double digits from Steamboat to Beaver Creek, Snowmass and perhaps Crested Butte. Telluride will score moderate amounts. Vail and areas east of Eagle County may see less. Breckemrdge is a solid contender. The further west you travel may land you deeper snow. Steamboat, and Aspen recently opened and Telluride spins on Thursday.