Recent photo from the Chugach Region of Alaska where H2O guided Heli skiing operates http://www.alaskahelicopterskiing.com/
Photo: Josh Cooley from Primal Outdoors Magazine http://primaloutdoorsmagazine.com/

Thanks for you support for what ended up one of the most inconsistent powder seasons!  The Sierra started out with several deep storms only to be followed by high pressure towards the middle and end of the season. The Northwest who had early predictions for a dry winter ended up above normal in many spots.  Mount Baker logged over 700 inches of snow. 97 of the 147 days open at Baker this season had powder! . Crystal, Stevens, and Alpental had respectable seasons with some new snow falling in the past 24 hours.  Alta and Snowbird are over 400 inches for the year putting them at 80% of average.  The Canyons resort logged an epic finish to the season with a 20 inch dump in their final week.  Vail logged over 60 inches after closing a few weeks ago and reopened for locals who lined up over 300 deep for 1st Vista Gondola last Friday. I was on it!

POWDER WATCH ISSUED FOR COLORADO TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY

Strong cold front will kick off moderate snow Tuesday night into Wednesday over Colorado.  The Front range is favored so areas like Loveland and A Basin will likely see another powder day! Loveland Ski Basin has seen over 80 inches of dry powder in April.  They are over 300 inches YTD. 

Thanks for all that have donated to keep Powderchasers alive. Your donations will go for a new site next season.  I hope to be able to continue my dreams of forecasting and chasing powder in the future!  Your help is much appreciated!  My memories of faceshots will carry me into the summer.  The Northwest stays active early this week (Whistler) as well as Colorado!  Enjoy the POW

PLEASE FEED US!   

Powderchaser Steve

Valdez Alaska- Current picture thanks to Josh Cooley- http://primaloutdoorsmagazine.com/

Just when I was ready to pull the plug on alerts for the season I cant resist watching this next cold front moving into Montana today.  Heavy snowfall will spread through central and southern Montana (Billings in the bulls-eye),  This will move into Teton Pass tonight with light to moderate snowfall.  The issue on the Tetons is that the winds are Northerly (West or Southwest is better) so amounts will stay sub alert.   That cold air makes it’s way into Colorado Monday PM through Tuesday AM.   The bulk of moisture will be over the Divide so areas like Loveland and A-Basin might see decent amounts.  My choice of the week will be Tuesday!  The front range foothills will also see measurable snowfall.

The Wasatch stays on the Western edge so don’t expect anything more than 2-4 inches early this week.   Snowbird and Alta had near epic conditions Saturday (12-14 new at upper elevations- medium density, 6-9 lower elevations dense).  Snowbird will be open into May.

Long term spells very wet for the far North and places like Alaska who could reap the spring powder!  British Columbia models are showing HEAVY moisture from the middle of next week for a 5-8 day period (Cold storms possible).

Enjoy the powder for those die hards still looking for facshots.

Powderchaser Steve

Light to moderate snow fell all day in the Cottonwoods of Utah bringing good turning conditions to Snowbird all day but you had to pick your Northerly exposures carefully to avoid any hidden surprises (4-6 inches today on top of the 8 from yesterday).  Light snow will increase in the AM however I am not expecting much more than 2-4 inches before everything winds down late Wednesday. Leftovers from Tuesday will be plentiful especially if visability increases (FOG with low ceilings all day on Tuesday).

COLORADO

I have been studying the models for the next strong wave over Colorado.  Currently the frontal boundry is stationary extending from Grand Junction into Meeker (HEAVY SNOW).   I-70 has seen some occasional snow showers which will increase in the morning.  The models are advertising this band to move down to I-70 by 10AM where NOAA is advertising snow tonight. I feel that anything that falls tonight along I-70 will be light until late AM on Wednesday.  Moderate to occasional heavy snow will be falling from Aspen to Loveland in the PM into Wednesday evening.   Northerly winds will be impacting visibility along the Front Range. Expect the highest snow totals to be from Winter Park to Loveland as well as the northern front range (Boulder and north).

Wednesday will likely be another powder day in Colorado (Late AM through Thursday) especially along and north of I-70.    Thursday will see a decrease of snow with light amounts likely.    Amounts in the mountains will be in the 5-10 inch range.

This weekend looks interesting with another system moving into the Wasatch Saturday/Sunday (Perhaps 4-8) and eventually Colorado late.

Enjoy the POW!  We will be chasing from Snowbird to either Loveland or Winter Park on Wednesday PM.

Powderchaser Steve (PCS).

Nate Dolan rips up the powder at Snowbird today – Photo Credit- Matt Baydala Park City Guru of all powder.

Very heavy snow was falling over Interstate-70 in Colorado this morning at rates of 4 inches per hour at Vail (Hiking was epic),  and up to 15 inches of new snow at Loveland Ski Area for those lucky storm skiers that grabbed it. There has been another 4 inches at Loveland in the past 3 hours and still dumping.   Aspen  Highlands (Still open this week), logged around 8-10inches today (according to my trustworthy spotters), and epic conditions in the Bowl.   Winter Park logged nearly 10 inches and still snowing. The Vail snow stakes from the AVY center are all showing around 12-15 inches of fresh. Was it employee appreciation day? If  they got to ride the lifts sign me up for next year!  I will  load chairs for a month just to have had in on the Vail employee Posse.

Snowbird had another sneak on powder day where I chased from Colorado this morning (Not sure I should have left), with improving conditions as the day progressed (8-10 inches at upper elevations- Faceshots with some crust on Southerly exposures).  conditions on Baldy and Upper Peruvian were nearly epic. Tomorrow might be even better!

Outlook

Snow will continue over I-70 in Colorado for another several hours before the front retreats North towards Meeker, Craig, Uinta Montains, and perhaps Steamboat.   Utah will be getting back flow from the Northeast bringing Snowbird back into action on Tuesday. Amounts might stay in the 6-9 inch range is my guess but deeper pockets might be found higher up at the ridges.   In Colorado the winds shift to the Southwest on Tuesday ending most snow over the Front Range and I-70.   My POWCAST is calling for an increase of snow over Colorado on Wednesday as the front stalled at the Wyoming /Colorado border retreats south. This will fire up another 6-10 inches of snow along I-70 during the late AM and PM making both storm ski days and Thursday AM good bets.  This is the time of year where we all strive to not miss the last epic day of the year so the frenzy of powder nuts are in full swing this week.

CHASE BETS FOR TUESDAY

Lovland ”ultra deep”  Winter Park, Aspen Highlands, Snowbird-Storm ski day).

Powderchaser Steve