[Forecast courtesy of Powderchasers]
Summary:
I am on the chase in Jackson where 10 inches fell overnight albeit strong winds and warming (*upside-down snow). “There is no good solution today with the warmer air that is entrenching most of the West. Colder air and additional systems are due midweek that are sure to create epic conditions especially Tuesday/Wednesday in many areas as a cold front sinks down over Idaho, Tetons, Utah and Colorado. The Sierra, which is currently buried up top and flooding below will see cooler temps over the next 3 days with another 3-4 feet of snow. Chases might be best in high elevation areas of Colorado (Silverton, Wolf Creek, Crested Butte, Monarch, Breckenridge) or perhaps consider Grand Targhee which is on the colder end of the storm (*Winds might keep them buttoned up today).
FORECAST:
It’s snowing heavily in the Tetons, northern Utah, and a good portion of central and southern Idaho. I would put Sun Valley on my bucket list today with 10-11 inches overnight on the powder cam (More up top) and perhaps less Avalanche delays when compared to the Tetons (Speculation). “There was a 50 degree uptick of temperature yesterday at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort” which is almost unheard of mid-winter (Significant increase in Avalanche danger). Temps are going to fall by 2PM today (Currently 28 at the summit and 33 at the base), with snow decreasing somewhat this afternoon and tonight (Light to moderate continues into Tuesday AM and will have peaks and lulls so expect another 8-12 inches by tomorrow). Winds are a significant factor currently in the Tetons so expect wind holds in most areas. Mid week will be chase worthy for the Tetons (Colder and moderately deep).
Snow increases over most of Colorado late AM or early afternoon today and cranks out another 1-2 feet by Tuesday morning. I suspect heaviest amounts will be found near Irwin Lodge, Monarch, Crested Butte, and Silverton with a shift over the northern and central mountains tonight and Tuesday. Colder air works in by Tuesday at daybreak so quality will improve (Lighter density over the dense) and a push of heavy snow will be falling from Steamboat, Vail, Aspen, and most of I-70. The cold front over Interstate 70 will form banded heavier snow showers that could put down 3-7 inches in s short period of time for many resorts. Chase to the central mountains today for last chair and head north for early chairs for Tuesday. The northern Mountains will grab 8-12 through Tuesday while the central mountains come out ahead by late tonight (14-18).
The Wasatch scores big in the north (Ogden Valley north- Beaver Mountain, Snowbasin) with 6-12 inches of very dense snow above 8,000 feet today and 3-7 south (Cottonwoods). Park City will see rain from mid mountain to the bases today before changing back to heavy snow tonight. The colder air working down from the north hits the Wasatch tonight making chases to most resorts on Tuesday worth the effort (6-12 inches of medium density snow will fall over many areas tonight).
Other spots to watch are the Oregon Cascades who will see 5-12 inches of fresh today. The Sierra (Its too much snow to chase right now) gets another 2-4 feet wit cooler temps today and again Thursday. Warmer air will periodically works it’s way into the Sierra driving snow levels back down to around 7,000 feet on Wednesday (Warming). I feel that most of the lake level rain is going to end so snow will be pushing down to the valley floor over the next several days especially early and late this week (Mid week warm air push).
EXTENDED:
I’m watching another round of heavy snow for the Rockies late Tuesday-Thursday. Colder air and heavy snowfall will be likely for the Tetons, Central and southern Idaho, Utah, and most of Colorado mid week. There should be a break in the action late week! The Cascades may get back in the game early next week?
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*THE FIREHOSE IS WIDE OPEN BUT CHASES ARE TRICKY THIS WEEK,
