NOAA Forecast radar for Friday 11/6/17 | Image: NOAA

The next storm system currently impacting the Sierra will move east to provide heavy amounts of snow to many areas of the Rockies. Snow levels will start out high and drop to all base areas of the Rockies later in the storm period. Most areas of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado will grab a decent dump before it all tapers by late Saturday. The Tetons grabbed another 7 inches last night at upper elevations and another foot or more will fall through Friday morning. Whistler scored big time with 67 inches in 7 days! WOO HOO!

The Chase Forecast — Rockies:

As I forecasted, Sun Valley scored 9-10 inches where models show continued snowfall through late today. The South/SW winds favored SV last night. Today, winds shift more westerly behind colder air that will shift snow further west and north perhaps Brundage gets some light or moderate action.

The Tetons score double digit numbers late this afternoon through Friday mid morning with good westerly flow (Grand Targhee and JHMR should be deep). Temps will drop Friday morning so light snow at the bases will freshen up by mid morning. Below is a pic of the Sun Valley Web cam this morning at 9AM MST

The Wasatch finally gets a decent dump! Snow will begin late tonight and pick up early Friday with colder air and lowering snow levels. SW winds initially might favor the upper elevations further north near Beaver, Powder, Snowbasin tonight before westerly flow and colder temps drop moisture south into Park City and the central Wasatch (*Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon) early Friday morning. Cold air orographics will increase intensities for much of Friday with a wide area of 9-15 inches above 8,000 feet (entire Wasatch Range). My chase cast puts 6-11 inches for Park City and areas north towards Snowbasin, 15-18 inches for the backcountry areas of the Uinta range and 11-16 inches for the Cottonwoods. Higher amounts are likely above 9500 feet.

Utah snow totals through late Friday night- Uinta’s in 1-2 foot category with Wasatch in the 12 inch range (Higher amounts will fall in the Cottonwoods) | Image: WXBell

Colorado gets decent snowfall after midnight tonight continuing through early Saturday. Winds are initially SW favoring the San Juans (Purgatory, Wolf Creek, Crested Butte) and shift to the west Friday morning. Westerly winds will keep snow cranking over Crested Butte and Monarch. Heavy snow will also be falling over the I-70 corridor (Beaver Creek can do well with West winds). Winds shift to the NW in the afternoon.

Decent amounts of pow will be found over most of Colorado before it winds down early Saturday morning. NW flow can favor the Vail Valley late Friday. It’s hard to nail down the deepest totals but if I were chasing my highlights would include Crested Butte, Monarch, Aspen followed by Vail, Breckenridge, and Steamboat. The central mountains near CB may see 12-16 inches where areas along I-70 should grab 9-13. The southern mountains who score initially will be in the 5-10 inch range.

— Powderchaser Steve 11/16/2017

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