Several Feet of Snow Likely This Weekend, Especially for Sierra & Rockies
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Deep slashes in Whistler. Whistler Blackcomb/Logan Swayze photo.
Stoke Factor is rapidly increasing as weather models are all hinting at a significant storm moving into many areas of the West beginning on Friday. Our target areas are the Sierra, Tetons, Wasatch, central Idaho, northern Colorado, and to some extent the Cascades (Friday). If you want to chase powder this weekend there will be many options.
In the past 48 hours moisture funneled into the Cottonwood Canyons creating epic conditions with 20-25 inches of “Blower Powder” at Alta and Snowbird followed by Big Cottonwood with 15 inches. I was there and can testify this as “one of the best days in many years on Monday morning”
Highlights from last week!
Tom Cuddy tastes champagne at Alta. Ben Whitney photo.
Alta: 25 inches in the past 2 days.
Mammoth: 28 inches in 7 days
Kirkwood: 26 inches in 7 days
Telluride: 22 inches in 7 days
Park City: 20 inches in 7 days
WHERE TO CHASE POWDER THIS WEEKEND?
This is Whistler today! Whistler Blackcomb photo.
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Pacific Northwest: Rain at lower and mid elevations this week transitions to all snow by Friday. Moderate snowfall likely Friday/Saturday over the Cascade range with your best turning conditions Friday/Saturday (Cold temperatures and continuous light- moderate snowfall). Whistler may see higher amounts of dense snow by Thursday with rain at the bases (7-12 up high). By Sunday most areas in the northwest will report decent snow totals from the previous 3 days.
Sierra: Warm system due Friday brings dense moderate snowfall to most of the Sierra range (Mixed precipitation at lower elevations). Temperatures cool on Saturday with moderate snowfall to all elevations continuing (Decent amounts at upper elevations). The real action begins late Saturday through Sunday when very cold air and strong winds usher in heavy snowfall and perhaps an additional 2 feet plus by Monday morning.
Most of the Sierra range will report epic numbers with a slightly higher amounts possible at Mammoth. This will be a very cold system and likely hoist our limited Epic Alert by Monday morning. Winds could be an issue with upper lifts Sunday in 2-3 inch per hour snowfall rates. Snow showers continue Monday! Last chair Sunday or 1st chair Monday will bring you the “White Room”. Storm totals from Friday-Monday will be in the 2-3 foot range.
Rockies: Models show moisture increasing over northern Idaho, interior BC, and NW Montana late Thursday (Moderate snowfall likely). Colder air drops south and increases snowfall over central Idaho and southern Montana Friday. The Tetons get into the action Friday afternoon through Saturday with perhaps 6-10 inches for 1st lifts at JHMR or Targhee with snow continuing through the day (Saturday). Tetons get a break on Sunday with an increase of moisture early Monday through Tuesday (Moderate to heavy amounts likely).
Deep in Snowbird. Dave Amirault/Snowbird photo.
Wasatch: Utah sees light to moderate snow late Friday through Saturday morning. Moisture increases with a cold front on Saturday AM and ramps up snow totals by late in the day (Storm ski day- Getting deep). Action continues into Monday for the Wasatch with periods of light to moderate snow adding up to several feet before ending on Tuesday morning.
Colorado: The Centennial State grabs light action Saturday in the northern mountains which turns heavy into Sunday morning. Cold air orographics could land some decent numbers in most of the Central and northern mountain ranges (Aspen, Vail, Crested Butte, Steamboat, Breckenridge) by late Sunday. Moisture increases again late Sunday night into Monday morning favoring the 4- Corners region. Taos, Arizona Snowbowl, and Wolf Creek may all be contenders!
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