7 Day Powder Forecast From Powderchasers

7 DAY POWDER FORECAST- WATCHES HOISTED FOR THE SIERRA/CASCADES!

Synopsis: Final pieces of energy are streaming into the 4 corners from a storm that dumped 19 inches at Wolf Creek since Thursday. They are just 3 inches shy of 100 inches YTD. That should be met with a final piece of energy that comes in later Sunday/Monday (2-4 inches). We hit the “Wolf” on Saturday with a fresh coat of buttery smooth slopes toasted with 4-7 inches of freshies. The Wasatch will grab a tease later today (3-4) as well as Colorado where 4-7 inches will fall through Monday night. Vail nabbed 5 inches yesterday with a considerable amount of open terrain. Significant moisture is aimed at the PNW this week. The extended forecast has our eyes watching the Cascades for midweek and high confidence for 8-12 inches for the Sierra by Thursday/Friday.

CASCADES: Snow begins Tuesday evening with respectable snow levels (3500). Snow increases on Wednesday morning with a slight warming trend (4500-5,000 foot snow levels). Moderate amounts likely at higher elevations (3-7). Energy moves south over Oregon on Wednesday with a slight break in the action for the northern and central Cascades. Heavy moisture moves into the PNW Wednesday night-Friday with 4500-5,500 snow levels dropping to 3,000 by Friday. Significant snowfall likely through the period at upper elevations (12-24 inches) and moderate amounts at lower elevations (5-10). Snow level drops below all base areas by Friday with continued snow showers at lower and upper elevations (3,000 foot snow level by Saturday). Eastern Cascades seem favored for snowfall late week (Thursday/Friday). Whistler grabs respectable amounts through the period as well as interior BC (Most energy drops south with some spillover into the interior especially Thursday-Saturday). Powder Watches hoisted for the Cascades Thursday-Saturday!

SIERRA: Models are showing high stoke factor beginning mid Thursday morning and continuing into Friday! Powder Watches hoisted for a good portion of the Sierra (Incidentally Powderchasers coined “Powder Alerts” and “Powder Watches” 15 years ago) for a good chance of a foot or more of freshies and respectably low snow levels (5,000 feet). This storm looks chase worthy.

Rockies: Light-moderate snow moves into 4 corners late this afternoon and moves through central Colorado later this evening (Aspen, Crested Butte, Monarch). 3-5 inches are likely in many areas with higher amounts in the southern zones. That snowfall moves over I-70 by late Sunday night grazing all northern mountains with 2-5 inches overnight (Loveland, Winter Park, Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail). Winds shift to the NW on Monday so light snow showers will continue over I-70 from Vail north through Steamboat. Some areas might see an additional 2-4 inches (Steamboat favored, Vail Wildcard). 1st chair Monday or last chair up north might be the call. The Wasatch will see a tease of 2-3 inches in the Cottonwoods with 1-3 inches near Park City late Sunday.

The extended forecast is unclear for the Rockies. High Pressure will take hold next week. The Sierra storm splits while weakening. Some energy is depicted to flow north over central Idaho and the Tetons by Friday and perhaps another wave for the 4 corners? Amounts currently look light to moderate at best.

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