powderchasers.com
Happy superbowl Sunday!
We had a very active week with up to 2-3 feet in the Tetons,Wasatch, Montana (Bridger Bowl-38 INCHES), and areas of Colorado (Vail andSteamboat had over 2 feet). Earlier we saw heavy snow in the southern San Juan’s (Telluride, Silverton, Durango, Wolf Creek, Taos) so from a die hard chaser Colorado is back on the map! Some folks who chased to Vail on Thursday made comments like “Best Powder in 2 years“, “Chest Deep” and all the things that would make someone jump on a plane for Friday or feel the pain in their gut for a missed opportunity. In Utah the winners were Snowbasin (25 inches of feathers last Tuesday) as well as Snowbird and Alta who saw 12-15 of dry snow early in the week followed by another 12 inches of medium density snow and grapple (The stuff that makes noise when it hits your jacket) on Thursday (Wind impacted).
POWCAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
The Northwest gets active moisture primarily targeted at Monday night/Tuesday (5-10 inches of medium density) and again Wednesday night and Thursday (7-12 lower density). Some of that moisture will split along the coast however a decent amount will make it inland towards northern Idaho. The bulk of moisture swings along the coast of Oregon and California on Thursday eventually bringing snow back to the Sierra (Northern areas favored) by Thursday PM. This storm will have lots of cold air with low snow levels in the Tahoe Basin however amounts might stay in the 4-9 inch range.
ROCKIES:
The system in the Sierra swings through Nevada (Ruby Mountains) and into the Wasatch of Utahby Friday morning. The models show light to moderate moisture over Utah from Friday AM through Saturday night. Some models show some splitting so an early guess on amounts will be 7-14 inches in many areas with perhaps greater amounts? The southern 4-CORNERS- CO/AZ/NM/UT will see snow by Friday AM which eventually migrates into Central and northern Colorado by Saturday night. I am confident on snow for the central and southern Rockies however amounts could be variable. Hopefully we can issue a powder alert by midweek!
The Tetons will see some snow by late in the week, however my confidence is less with the bulk of moisture to the south. A secondary weak low might develop over the Tetons and northern Colorado on Monday?
EAST COAST: Light snow is falling along the Seacoast of New Hampshire today. The exciting news might be a decent storm in New England with cold air late next week (Friday) and again the following Monday/Tuesday.
Powderchaser Steve