[Forecast Courtesy of Powderchasers]
3-4 FEET POSSIBLE FOR THE SIERRA THIS WEEK! SNOW CONTINUES IN THE ROCKIES AND CASCADES
Chase update:
Every year if you chase powder you will be shut down, skunked, winded, or stuck with your tail down. I saw significant snow for Stevens Pass and chased at 4:30 AM for 1st chair. 4-6 inches had fallen since 2AM. Unfortunately, I failed to look at the wind speeds that kept the entire mountain closed till late morning. Snow intensified at 2-4 inches per hour during the day.
Currently strong convergence zones are keeping moderate snow going over Snoqualmie, Alpental, and Crystal. Expect another 4-8 inches along or north of I-90 and 3-6 inches at Crystal. Mt Baker is outside this flow. Crystal nabbed 10 inches during the day! Alpental nabbed 17 inches! Deep snow will await you at many resorts in WA and OR Monday morning.Snow should taper after midnight in Washington and continue into Monday for Oregon.If you going to chase this week consider Oregon tonight as very heavy snow is still falling at most resorts.
The Sierra:
That moisture drops into the Sierra by Monday morning and will bring a healthy dose of 11-15 inches to most resorts (north slightly favored). Snow will taper somewhat by early Tuesday. Snow showers will still be falling in the southern Sierra near Mammoth Mountain. Chases up north for last chair Monday or first chair Tuesday will be good.
Mammoth should also score decent amounts primarily late Monday morning and Tuesday.
Northern Rockies:
Moisture will increase over The Tetons and most of southern and central Idaho (Brundage, Sun Valley, Tamarack) tonight into Monday morning. The Tetons may only see 3-6 inches tonight with another 6 inches just as the lifts open Monday morning (Snow intensifies after sunrise). Double digits are guaranteed into Monday (Including the Sunday night snow). The central Panhandle south of I-90 may also score deep snow Sunday night/Monday. Areas in Northern Utah towards Logan may end up tipping the scales at 4-8 inches by late Monday (Beaver Mountain). Spots in the northern Wasatch near Ogden (PowMow and Snowbasin) will see lower amounts (3-5). If you are in Utah chase north Monday morning.
The remainder of the week = DEEP for many spots in the West.
A strong and moist system moves into the Cascades Wednesday/Thursday. Expect windy conditions Wednesday with heavy snow through Thursday morning (Winds decreasing). That system slams into the Sierra Thursday and Friday with several feet of snow. From there chase to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and even Montana where some significant snow is likely Friday and Saturday. I am not going to highlight details just yet. Expect 2-4 feet for the Sierra this week (Possibly higher amounts) including the Monday storm.
Most spots in the Rockies continue deepness through the end of the week. Colorado is one spot that may end up on the low end of the game?
More updates to follow!
– Powderchaser Steve
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