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Sierra gets a dump with WIND ISSUES
Storm system is still on track with cold front reaching the north Sierra on Tuesday morning and quickly progressing south to Yosemite by afternoon. Very windy conditions will pound the Sierra Tuesday through mid day Wednesday affecting lifts in many areas. Choose your resorts wisely! Moderate snow will be seen Tuesday early AM turning heavy by late morning and early afternoon. Expect generally 7-10 inches during the day and another 3-6 Wednesday evening. Some areas south towards Mammoth might see higher amounts by Wednesday morning. My pick of the 2 days would be Wednesday due to stronger winds Tuesday for many areas of the Sierra.
ROCKIES- 4 CORNERS
The bulk of moisture exiting California will spread north into the Ruby mountains of NV (5-11) as well as southeast towards Arizona (BULLSEYE OVER ARIZONA SNOWBOWL). This will occur on Wednesday early AM (Heavy storm ski day) and reach southern UT by mid morning (Storm ski day for Brian Head ). Snow will also begin in the Wasatch (Light) with occasionally moderate amounts over Sundance and areas south (Not much accumulation until late Wed). Snow will begin overDurango and Wolf Creek mid morning Wednesday and turn heavy by PM. The low favors areas over New Mexico with Taos in the Bullseye for Wed PM (9-14). Wolf Creek will see moderate snow extending up towards Durango and Silverton (lower amounts) during the day. Storm ski late Wednesday and again Thursday in the southern San Juan’s.
The Wasatch, Tetons and Northern Colorado
Much depends on how far north the low pressure digs? Amounts will vary significantly based on exact track. My take on the models is that the Wasatch will get several hours of heavy snow Wednesday night with a wind shift to the NW. That puts a bullseye over the southern Wasatch (9-14) and less towards the north. Sundance will see more snow Wednesday than the Cottonwoods but less on Thursday. Park City does well with southerly flow so might bring some surprises! Models show moisture extending as far as the Tetons so powder will be falling for Thursday (3-7). Colorado sees a wind shift on Thursday so the central and northern mountains get into the leftovers during the day (Light to moderate along I-70). Most of the energy by Thursday will be over the Eastern Plains (Heavy snow). A secondary piece drops into I-70 on Friday with a good shot of 3-7 inches during the day over much of Colorado (Summit, Eagle, Moffat, Pitkin).
The most exciting news is a very powerful cold storm that will sweep through the Cascades on Friday and into the Tetons, Montana, Central Idaho, and Wasatch by Saturday morning. This will progress into Colorado by Saturday night. Currently I am issuing an EPIC WATCH as amounts will be in the 18-25 inch range in many areas by late this weekend.
Powderchaser Steve