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Report From Powderchasers.com

POWDER ALERTS- SIERRA, WASATCH, TETONS- COLORADO ON WATCH

The Big News!  Whistler nabbed 47 inches of powder in the last 7 days with over a foot last night!  Most of that snow has fallen from mid to upper mountain with high density.  Send us some pictures via Instagram if you were out there.  WOO HOO CANADA! Other big news is thatKirkwood nabbed 10 inches overnight as a bonus before the “Big storm late this weekend.

Cascades:  High snow levels will bring rain to most areas today below 6,000 feet.  Sunday drags some cold air in so expect a light freshening of powder over the “Mank” that falls today and tonight. Next week stays unsettled with lowering snow levels (3500) and snow showers through the extended forecast (Slow recovery but no single deep dump).

Sierra:   Light snow is falling at upper peaks this morning favoring the southern Tahoe Basin through Mammoth.  Snow levels are as high as 8,000 feet so expect rain at lower elevations with light snow this morning turning moderate by afternoon. Very strong winds later this morning will blow hard so expect the unexpected when it comes to what lifts will be spinning.  Heavy wet snow takes aim at the Sierra tonight with strong winds (7,000 foot snow level).   Cold air moves into the northern Sierra around 2AM and over Mammoth by 4AM.  Heavy wet snow turns to better quality Sunday morning as impressive snow totals crank through the mid morning hours (18-30 inches).   A brief break   in the northern Sierra Sunday mid morning (Mammoth early PM) will provide a short window for hopeful upper lift openings. Expect the unexpected for openings due to lots of control work going on and lingering winds.  Heavy snow slams back into the Sierra Sunday evening through Monday morning (12-18 inches).  The GFS shows higher amounts towards the northern lake and lower in the southern Sierra (Mammoth)  The Euro depicts a more even spread. We feel that areas like Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl or Squaw may end up winning by late Monday (2 day totals) but who cares when theres 2-4 feet of powder from the past 2 days. Mammoth could win Saturday/Sunday with less on Monday.   Brief ridging Tuesday-Wedesday with another round of heavy moisture likely late in the week into next weekend (Repeat storm cycle with several feet possible). 

Rockies:  Moisture from the Sierra pushes up under SW flow into central and southern Idaho Sunday.  Moderate amounts are likely from Stanley, Sun Valley, Brundage and areas  in the upper Snake River Plane (5-10).   We are upping the amounts in the Tetons from our previous forecast to 5-9 inches Sunday late AM through Monday morning (Late Sunday or Early Monday powder turns at upper elevations). Snow will come in wet and heavy and end with some medium float. Upper elevations of Teton Pass, Targhee, JHMR will be your best bets.

The Wasatch models show generally 5-10 inches at upper elevations and 3-6 lower.  We feel a wide area of snowfall from the Idaho border through the Cottonwoods will be falling. SW flow will favor areas near Ogden and Big Cottonwood early Sunday with a trend towards West/NW flow late Sunday into Monday (Colder- Medium density). Expect 3-6 inches during the day.  NW flow will kick another 3-5 inches overnight Sunday especially in Little Cottonwood. Storm totals in the Cottonwoods could trend slightly higher than our forecasted 5-10 by Monday morning so look for a few surprises. Strong winds late Sunday morning with the cold front passage and some snow thunder is possible so expect afternoon lift holds.  Best times to ride will be late Sunday or early Monday.

Moisture zooms into central and southern Colorado late Sunday into Monday.  Models show the highest amounts over the central and southern mountains (4-9).  Areas like Silverton, Crested Butte, Purgatory, Monarch, Wolf Creek are in my targets.  Winds shift to the west  early Monday dragging a quick 3-6 inches over I-70 for Summit and Eagle County (Beaver Creek and Breckenridge often benefit from westerly flow).  Late Monday morning winds turn northerly giving some benefits to areas closer to Denver (Loveland, Eldora, WP).  Overview: General trend for 3-9 inches Statewide favoring the western areas of the State from the 4 corners up through Grand Junction and into Eagle and Summit.  Watch the web cams and pick your spots for Monday (Most snow will fall late Sunday through Monday mid morning).

Additional storms likely late next week or weekend for the Rockies?  The Sierra is active agains so the leftovers may grace us by late Friday or Saturday.

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