[Report From Powderchasers]
Mt Baker Ski Area grabbed 133″ (*11 FEET) in the past 8 days with 17″ of that coming overnight! They have over a 200″ base at the summit of Pan Dome with more snow expected tonight and Saturday. They may close for Sunday/Monday with rain expected at most elevations. Ouch.
I am on the chase with tons of hiccups. My rental car was ransacked (Everything stolen) in Seattle with the only remaining items being my snowboard, boots, helmet and goggles. The good news is that I was able to score 2 double digit days at Stevens this week with a loaner jacket (Thanks Stevens). Then it was emergency oral surgery that required me to fly to Boulder Thursday. I restocked clothes into a pillow case (Luggage was stolen) and ran back to the airport from the dentist chair.
I headed to Mt Baker this morning with 17 inches falling overnight. Baker restricted upper mountain terrain (Chair 6 and 1) to patrons with AVY gear only. All others were forced to different lifts. That is the first time I have seen this inbounds at any resort. Most locals say it has happened once in the history of the resort. They have lost 3 snowboarders this season (2 OB and 1 inbounds on deep days- still not recovered). The deep pocketed snow is a concern for burial suffocation which may have happened to the snowboarder inbounds last weekend. I am a bit torn about this decision but it was definitely locals appreciation day at Baker today.
Alta Ski Area scored a foot of powder (I had lower amounts in the forecast) with lower amounts in the Park City (4-6″). The remainder of the week is going to feature another decent event for the Cascades Friday night/Saturday. 12-15 inches are likely from Stevens Pass to Crystal Mountain. 9-11″ likely for Mt Baker. It’s a bit hard to nail the models for Crystal on this system as the GFS take moisture slightly south where the EURO and more dependable model show deeper amounts. I suspect all the ski areas in Washington fall between 12-15 inches. I am favoring the central and southern Cascades. Oregon should land 5-11 inches primarily in the north.
That system drops over the Panhandle of Idaho (Schweitzer will come up with 4-7 inches tonight) and increases during the morning Sunday. Schweitzer will deepen during the day Sunday.
Wyoming and Montana should land some double digits by Sunday. The most snow will fall in northern Montana late Saturday night and Sunday (5-11). Mountains further south towards Big Sky may grab moderate snow Sunday/Monday (4-8). The Tetons grab higher moisture. Expect 4-6 inches by last chair Saturday (Could be decent) and another 5-8 inches for 1st chair Sunday. Total snowfall in The Tetons will range from 8-14 inches through Sunday morning.
Utah and Colorado get light leftovers.
Rain will be falling in The Pacific Northwest Saturday night and Sunday as snow levels climb to 6,000 feet.
Next week features warming and high pressure early week. Another system with colder air will drop into the Cascades on Tuesday and swing over the northern Rockies mid-week. This may favor Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.
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