7 Day Powder Forecast - Powderchasers

7 DAY POW FORECAST From Powderchasers.com

Spring brings surprise dumps due to orographics, warmer temperatures, sun angle and convection from cold pockets of air that can formulate heavy snows in a short period of time. Highlights from the last few days are Winter Park (13 inches), Monarch (9 inches Thursday), and Mount Baker who grabbed 15 inches since 2PM Thursday. I was at Breckenridge yesterday with Mountain Nomads with 5-6 inches mid mountain and up to a foot in the upper bowls (No wind, blower powder, some crust in spots especially lower elevations). Most front range resorts near Denver reaped the highest rewards!

The week ahead will bring additional surprise dumps especially to the Cascades and Colorado. Light snow over the Cascades today/Saturday will migrate to moderate snowfall into Sunday morning. Snow levels will rise to base levels so a mix is likely especially in the southern or central zones. Snowfall near Mount Baker will likely exceed 10 inches by Sunday morning (Dense). Stevens Pass and central zones should see 5-9 inches with 4-7 near Crystal.

The Wasatch, and Tetons are stuck with light snow showers through the weekend with some models hinting at slightly higher amounts late Saturday or Sunday (2-4). Freshening likely each day. The Sierra grabs light snow late today through Saturday AM (2-4). I was at Kirkwood earlier this week and can testify that conditions in the Sierra are fantastic right now (47 inches at Squaw in the past 5 days).

Colorado sees a shift from SW flow early Saturday (Light snow from Grand Junction-South-), to NW flow Sunday/Monday. Snow over I-70 is likely late Saturday/Sunday (3-4- higher amounts possible I-70 and south by Sunday AM ) The flow turns northerly late Sunday which will favor Aspen before shifting NE early Monday (Eldora, Winter Park,, Loveland, A-Basin). I would expect most central and northern mountain locations to grab a powder day either Sunday AM (Central Colorado) or Monday morning (Front Range, Monarch, Vail and Summit). Not deep but respectable. Orographics sometimes reap surprise dumps at higher elevations (Vail Pass). Both Sunday and Monday stand chances of last minute chases (Monday odds better for I-70).

The long term picture drys things out for the Rockies early to mid next week. Snow is likely nearWhistler on Tuesday (Colder with moderate amounts) that will extend into the northern and central Cascades. Interior BC might reap rewards Tuesday/Wednesday.

Westerly flow is over the Tetons Thursday (light snow) and a hint of a stronger system possible next weekend for Colorado (Low confidence in models at this time).

Best chases?

Saturday– Light snow in central and southern Colorado- moderate near Vail late.

Sunday- Cascades (Mount Baker, Stevens- 8-11 or more).

Monday– Vail, Aspen, Summit County, Front Range of Colorado (3-7).

Tuesday PM– Whistler (Wildcard).