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Report: Powderchasers.com
SUMMARY: Everyone might get action in the next 3-5 days with several feet in the Cascades through Saturday. Whistler grabs goods as well with more storms for the PNW and BC by Tuesday/Wednesday next week. 20-30 inches likely for the Sierra Saturday PM/Sunday. Idaho reaps good rewards including Sun Valley (They are scoring big this season). The Tetons get teased until Sunday (Moderate snow) where the Wasatch should log a double digit dump late Sunday/Monday.
POWCAST: Light snow is falling in the Cascades currently. Snow should pick up overnight significantly in the northern Cascades (Mount Baker) and moderately over Stevens Pass including all resorts long Interstate 90. Baker could report morning totals in the 9-12 inch range with 4-9 elsewhere. The southern Cascades are going to see less tonight. Temps are warming so what falls tonight will be a good base layer for the light fluff that follows late Friday/Saturday (Snow levels plummet from 3500 Friday morning to 500 feet by Saturday). Snow may also be falling in the upper hills near Seattle early Saturday morning.
2 Model runs look different to me! One run shows the heaviest snow remaining over the northern and central Cascades where another has heavy snow Friday over Crystal (Southern Cascades). I suspect the north will win however it’s possible that low totals at Crystal tonight turn some magic by late Friday. Total snowfall in many regions of the Northwest will be 15-26 inches by Saturday morning. Chases will include storm skiing Friday and cold blower moderate frosting for Saturday AM. Wind holds are possible Friday. Whistler nabs 9-14 inches through Friday with strong winds. The Oregon Cascades are in the mix for late Friday/Saturday with models showing even heavier amounts Sunday! Several feet will be falling here.
Moisture from the PNW splits south and north. Eastern Cascades, and most of Idaho and north-central Montana grab powder days Friday-Saturday (Favors the north including Schweitzer, Lookout Pass) and moves south over Sun Valley Saturday afternoon through Sunday. SE or SW winds should allow decent snowfall to gather in Ketchum through Sunday morning.
The Southern split races through northern California Saturday/Sunday. Most moisture for Tahoe will begin late Saturday afternoon (Very strong winds and lift closures). Heavy snow will dump 15-20 inches in the Tahoe basin (Includes Mammoth) through Sunday afternoon. Strong winds may continue especially Sunday morning (Caveat-Lift closures). Chase Sunday/Monday (new openings on Monday are more likely).
Moisture from Idaho and a powerful cold front race into the Tetons Sunday late AM with moderate snowfall likely (Quick hit of several inches that may linger into Sunday morning). The Wasatchgrabs the cold front late afternoon on Sunday that should land a double digit dump for many spots in Utah for Monday morning.
Colorado gets snow by late Sunday night and through the day on Monday. SW flow initially (Tease in the 4 corners) turns westerly by Monday morning. Heavy snow is likely with the cold air pushing against the mountain ranges creating good orographics especially over Steamboat and the higher mountain passes along I-70. It’s a quick hitter that might have a powerful punch (Wildcard).
Confidence: Strong confidence for heavy snow for the Pacific Northwest (Western and Eastern Cascades, Oregon Cascades) Friday/Saturday. Strong Confidence for the Sierra Saturday night/Sunday. Moderate to strong confidence for northern Idaho Friday-Sunday. Moderate confidence for Sun Valley Saturday night/Sunday. Moderate confidence for the Tetons Sunday. Moderate to strong confidence for the Wasatch Sunday PM/Monday AM. Moderate confidence for Colorado Monday (It’s still a ways out on models).
Below: Total snowfall through Wednesday afternoon next week
EXTENDED: The Tetons and perhaps the Wasatch grab an uptick of light or moderate moisture again late Monday or Tuesday (Slightly stronger in the Tetons) with continued snow showers. Snow showers continue in Colorado through Tuesday (Wildcard chases likely).
Another strong system should come ashore in the Pacific Northwest and BC mid next week.