Jackson hole was a maze of tram up, tram down, trip by trip heavy winds in the 70 mph range. Rain at the base and cream up top!!  The cold front will slam into the Rockies reaching Wyoming by 11PM and Northern Colorado by 2AM.  Winds will increase significantly for at least 6hoursafter frontal passage as the Tetons will decrease by opening times.  The highest amounts will be over Wyoming (7-10) as well as the Gore Range near Vail where by late Thursday 7-9 will have fallen.  Higher amounts possible!   The Wasatch range of Utah can expect a 2 hour window of heavy snow tonight diminishing to moderate by morning (5-9).   Most snow will wind down by late Thursday with the exception of the San Juans where theheaviest snow will fall after 10 AM. The Aspen zones will see 4-8 by Thursday PM as well as the San Juans with lighter amounts

I am bunkered down at Jackson Hole where it is snowing moderately at upper elevations and sleet on lower faces. If you can get here tomorrow will be epecially good since the tram ran very few trips with top to bottom smooth  conditions on top of 25 fresh!

Currently snowing with mix of sleet at lower elevations in Jackson Hole (18 inches in the past 24 hours) with heavy wind and snow on the mountain and expected extensive delays on Tram and openings for Wednesday!  Vail mountain is seeing moderate to heavy snow currently as well as Steamboat where it has not stopped snowing for the past 48 hours!  My expectations for Vail are 4-8 tonight and Steamboat in the 5-11 inch range.

My general pick at this point is Steamboat or Vail on Wednesday and perhaps Jackson Hole on Thursday since I believe most terrain will eventually open then (Winds will calm on Thursday).   Please post some weather updates!

Just a quick update looking at the models, moderate snow, strong winds, and slightly warming temperatures will continue across the Tetons (Targhee and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort) until a cold front passes on Wednesday night. Winds will calm down after the cold front passes and bring lighter density snow behind it (4-8).  Until that happens continuous moisture will stream in from the West tonight through Wednesday, strong winds (Lift closures likely), and heavy snowfall will continue with an expected 18-24 inches additional.  JHMR reported 10 inches overnight and another 5 inches has fallen during the day today!

The Wasatch will see light snow with 2-5 inches every 8 hours until the cold front on Wednesday night passes and eventually shutting things down by Thursday morning. The Northern Wasatch especially near the ID border will see much higher amounts.

More updates to follow!

Powderchaser Steve

4 inches at upper elevations has fallen at Snowbird last night with a good chance of another 3-6 inches later today and tonight under a cool Northwest Flow.  The 18 inches that was predicted turned into a skunker!    Colorado will see light snow begin in the far West this morning and turn heavier towards sunset.   Amounts should be in the 5-10 inch range by Monday morning over areas favored by Westerly flow. This includes Steamboat, Beaver Creek and my confidence in Aspen and Vail are still high? More snow moves inot Northern Colorado and Wyoming mid week with very few breaks between (steady light to moderate snow over the Wasatch, Northern Tip of Colorado, and Tetons.  Powder picks are the Wasatch today  and Beaver Creek or Vail for Colorado on Monday. Next weekend brings the potential for another larger west coast storm on Sunday.

Powderchaser Steve

As predicted the Northern areas of Mount Baker in Washington received 3-4 inches per hour snowfall during the night with deep convection, very cold air and 16 inches at the snow stake as of 6 AM.  Crystal is seeing lesser amounts however snow will continue through the day.  Stevens Pass and Crystal picked up 8 inches overnight and still snowing.

Utah will see light snow before midnight as well as the Tetons.  Heavy snow will accompany a very sharp cold front that sweeps through the Tetons and Wasatch between 3AM and 6AM Sunday.  Snowfall will be at the 2-3 inch per hour rates by Sunday morning over the Wasatch especially Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon.  Total amounts Will be 11-15 inches by 10 PM Sunday in the Wasatch, 7-10 in the Park City area, and 7-9 over the Tetons near Jackson Hole.   Sunday is the powder day!

Colorado will see snow break out Sunday by 8 AM especially towards Aspen, Crested  and perhaps Telluride where a large piece of energy drops South.  SW winds initially will favor area’s West and South of Aspen however once the cold front passes around Noon Sunday snow will pick up along I-70 and favor areas from Aspen to Vail. Steamboat will do well with the cold air and orographics alone so my guess is 7-9 inches there by Monday morning.  Most areas favored by NW flow, especially Vail and Snowmass should see Monday storm totals in the 7-11 inch range. Higher amounts are possible!!   The best days to ride would be PM Sunday (Aspen and perhaps Crested Butte) as well as Monday morning (My preference for the deep might include Vail, Aspen, Beaver Creek, Steamboat).  Summit County will be in the 5-9 inch range.   Telluride is the wildcard!  NOAA is not forecasting high amounts there however it is my experience that tells me that with cold air and the models dropping moisture South that they stand the chance for moderate amounts as well!!  Areas South of Ouray will see less snow!  Overall be ready to chase early Monday morning as snow will be bountiful in most locations Statewide with a edge of favortism to the I-70 corridor.

Light snow will continue Monday while you are skiing powder but most of the accumulations will be light.

Light snow picks up over Colorado midweek and moderate to heavy amounts are possible over the Tetons Wed/Thursday!   Another large storm is possible for next weekend especially for WY, CO.

Enjoy the powder and see you on the slopes!

Powderchaser Steve

Friday night update: 

The updated charts this evening are all coming together nicely for an epic day in the Northwest for Saturday (9-15 inches fresh) and another epic event for the Wasatch of Utah beginning at 3AM Sunday and continuing until 11 PM Sunday night. Storm totals in the Northern Wasatch will be in the 11-14 inch mark especially in the Cottonwoods near Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, Brighton. Park City area resorts will see 5-10 inches by late Sunday. The Tetons in Wyoming will also see a fare share most likely Saturday night into Sunday afternoon with 3-7 inches a good bet! More snow expected in the Tetons mid week!

Colorado models are still taking the storm towards the 4 corners however NW flow favors I-70 resorts. My guess at this point is that Aspen, Crested Buttte, Snowmass and Telluride get moderate snow by late Sunday night into Monday morning and that I-70 cranks the heaviest snow out towards Vail  by 10 AM Monday (Storm ski day). Amounts are not going to be as high East of Aspen so the deepest might end up from Aspen/Crested Butte, to Telluride.  My preference late Monday is the Vail Valley since NW winds later in the storm will eventually push more snow into Vail and Beaver Creek  by mid morning. Amounts will be in the 6-9 inch range over Vail and perhaps higher over Beaver Creek.   I still believe that double dipping of powder days in Colorado will be possible  Monday (Aspen and South- 6-10) and Tuesday closer to the front range but especially Vail (4-8).  Get on the chase now and post some comments please under Powder Buzz! My chase will include Snowbird on Sunday/Aspen on Monday and perhaps Vail on Tuesday.  THE TRIFECTA? 

Powderchaser Steve

Low Pressure currently moving into the 4 corners will bring heavy snow to Southern Utah at resorts such as Brian Head (7-14), eventually moving into the San Juans of Colorado later this morning. Steamboat as of 2PM reported 6 inches of fresh snow and still snowing as the southern jet is pushing moisture clear across Colorado into the Flattops.  The San Juans will see another 3-5 inches by midnight Tuesday.   Some areas closer to Durango might see higher amounts however low winds, and primarily convective bands (NM, CO border) will make amounts variable with heavy snow showers at times.  Snow will turn light after midnight.  Northern AZ and NM  will see 4-7 inches by later this evening.

Extended:  The long range pattern looks very good for a large storm moving into the Northwest and Northern Rockies by the weekend and perhaps several feet of snow by Tuesday over many areas so stay tuned for updates.

Low Pressure currently moving into the 4 corners will bring heavy snow to Southern Utah at resorts such as Brian Head (7-14), eventually moving into the San Juans of Colorado later this morning.  The San Juans will see 6-9 inches by midnight Tuesday.   Some areas closer to Durango might see higher amounts however low winds, and primarily convective bands (NM, CO border) will make amounts variable with heavy snow showers at times.  Snow will turn light after midnight over Southern Colorado where the Central mountains will pick up light amounts overnight.  Northern AZ and NM  will see 4-7 inches by later this evening.

Extended:  The long range pattern looks very good for a large storm moving into the Northwest and Northern Rockies by the weekend and perhaps several feet of snow by Tuesday over many areas so stay tuned for updates.

Latest models indicate as we predicted that heavy mountain snows will favor the 4 corners during the day on Sunday (1-3 tonight) (6-9 Sunday) and continuing through Monday morning.   The best powder days will be mid afternoon Sunday in the San Juans and on Monday morning. The Northern mountains of Colorado will do better Sunday night when the winds shift to the NW and areas like Aspen, Snowmass, Crested Butte, Telluride, Vail, Beaver Creek start to pick up moderate snow.  The Chase might be to ski the Southern San Juans on Sunday afternoon and then chase up to Aspen, Telluride, or Snowmass on Monday? My gut tells me that the southern San Juans will stay good for Monday as heavy snow will continue into Sunday evening. Silverton should be deep as well as Telluride later in the storm phase.

The Wasatch as we predicted before NOAA pulled the trigger on a Snow Advisory will also see powder!  I envision 6-9 inches likely before the end of the day on Sunday!!  Park City will 4-8.

The next storm is on it’s heels and will bring even higher amounts to the San Juans by Tuesday/Wednesday.  Please post your powder reports!!!

Powderchaser Steve

The latest models are bringing several brush by systems to the West and very warm temperatures in the Northwest through Saturday. Snow levels will drop Friday as another light to moderate event comes into Oregon and Washington however amounts will stay in the sub powder alert range.  Look for best conditions on Friday and again perhaps Monday next week.  Rain might be present earlier this week however the freshies will be lighter later!

The Sierra will see light snow Saturday however a stronger system will come in Sunday afternoon through Monday morning (7 plus inches) and the Rockies will start to see snow again by Sunday evening.  Most of the energy is taking a southern path so my picks might be the Wasatch on Monday and Tuesday mornings (4-8) and the 4 corners of Colorado on Wednesday/Thursday.   Colorado will begin to see snow as early as Sunday into Monday (4-8 for the 4 corners perhaps higher amounts) and another dosing of powder for Tuesday into Wednesday.     A stronger system is possible by mid to late next week over Colorado so stay tuned for daily updates. Most of the energy will be South!

Powderchaser Steve