Early Snow Tease: Chris Tomer’s Latest Mountain Weather Update Signals Powder Alerts Across the West
If you’re anything like me, the crisp fall air has you scrolling through webcams, dreaming of that first untracked line. Well, hold onto your beanies because Meteorologist Chris Tomer just dropped his October 21st update, and it’s packing some serious hype for the ski season kickoff. Uploaded fresh yesterday (October 21, 2025), this quick-hit video from the Chris Tomer channel is your go-to for decoding the atmospheric drama unfolding over the Rockies, Cascades, and beyond. With over 5,000 views already and climbing, it’s clear the stoke is real.
Watch the full update here – it’s under 10 minutes of pure meteorological magic, complete with radar loops and those satisfying snow maps that make your heart race.
The Setup: From Tropical Remnants to Atmospheric Rivers
Tomer kicks things off with a stunner of a sunrise shot from Copper Mountain, Colorado – because nothing says “winter’s coming” like golden alpenglow on fresh dusting. Right now, conditions are textbook early-season: clear skies, teens-to-20s temps in the high country, and just enough spotty precip to remind us we’re not in summer anymore. But the real story? A tag-team of weather systems barreling in.
First up: Remnants of a tropical low swirling up from the south, set to graze the Four Corners region late today (October 22) through tomorrow. Expect the rain-snow line to hover around 5,000 feet, meaning high-elevation resorts get the goods while lower spots stay soggy. Then, the main event – a beefy jet stream ripping at 170-180 mph, funneling an atmospheric river straight into the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia by Thursday (October 24). Yeah, forecasts have dialed back a notch from last week’s hype (less “Pineapple Express deluge,” more “solid moisture push”), but Tomer notes it’s still primed for “pretty darn good precip.”
Powder Predictions: Who’s Scoring the Deepest?
Tomer’s no-BS style shines as he zooms through resort-specific odds, using ensemble models and precipitable water maps to paint a vivid picture. Here’s the cream of the crop – the spots with the best shot at turning your weekend plans upside down:
- Alta, Utah: Light tease of 2 inches late today through tomorrow, then a meaty 8 inches over the weekend (October 26-27). Wasatch front could see up to 6 inches widespread – perfect for those Little Cottonwood laps.
- Snowmass, Colorado: Double dip alert! 6 inches possible this afternoon/evening from the tropical leftovers, followed by another 6 over the weekend. Central Colorado peaks like Berthoud Pass might stack 9-10 inches by early November.
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming: The Tetons are calling with 10 inches late next week (October 25-27). Up to 6 inches across the range – imagine those Corbet’s views with a fresh base.
- Mt. Rainier, Washington: Buckle up, Cascades crew – a whopping 36 inches (that’s three feet!) from October 24-27, whipped by 80-90 mph winds. Seattle’s even in for 4+ inches of rain by November 5, so the plumbing’s getting flushed.
- Mt. Washington, New Hampshire: East Coast gets love too, with 2 inches today and 3 more on the 24th. Tomer hints at a building Northeast snow pattern heading into November – sorry, leaf-peepers, the whites are taking over.
Broader hits include Montana’s up-to-6-inch potential, interior BC’s Powder Highway feasts (coastal ranges could bury under 3 feet), and even Idaho’s interior squeezes. Tomer’s radar animations show it all: dry today, southwest moisture arcing in by lunch tomorrow, then the river’s leading edge slamming the PNW by Thursday night. Multiple pulses mean lulls for travel, but the accumulations add up.
Why This Matters: Trends, Twists, and That Early-Season Buzz
What I love about Tomer’s takes is the nuance – he’s not just dumping numbers; he’s unpacking the “why.” That north-side lift from jet stream dips? It’s squeezing snow into the interiors like Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado while the coastal bomb stays juicy. Uncertainties linger (will the river fizzle further?), but the trends scream opportunity: Halloween snow chases and an early November base-building bonanza.
For us mortals glued to the forecast, this is the spark. Colorado’s central mountains are eyeing 6+ inches mid-week, BC’s Rebel Stoke already has a 2-4 inch base from recent dumps, and the Northeast’s subtle buildup could flip the script on those shoulder-season crowds. It’s a reminder that Mother Nature doesn’t wait for Opening Day.
