The pattern continues to evolve into a major winter storm for the Rockies as everything is now coming together for an epic dump for  Wednesday-Friday.

 

I flew to Seattle on Monday night and was blessed with up to 26 inches of dry face shots at Crystal Mountain Tuesday which happens to be one of the best kept secrets in the powder world! Crystal is reminiscent of a smaller scale Snowbird with fewer crowds and a good array of long steeps giving lots of continues laps of freshies. the snow quality can be excellent as long as snow levels are below 2500 feet.  It is so convenient to Seattle that one can easily ski in the morning and head for Dim Sum or Sushi in Seattle in the afternoon. This is exactly what I did as I pursue the powder trifecta (3 State powder chase on the same storm). I headed back to Utah late last night and am hunkered in as snow has just began in Park City. For those locals in Jackson they will be smiling as up to 16 inches fell yesterday with high winds and many lift closures keeping a good portion of the hill untracked. Get out today!

 

Powder Scoop: 

 

The storm is evolving slowly so be patient as light snow over Park City and the Northern Wasatch will turn heavy by 3pm Wednesday and dump hard all through Thursday afternoon. I would expect 18-26 inches by late Thursday night in many of the Utah resorts. In Colorado snow will first be heavy in the southern mountains on Thursday morning before the winds shift to the northwest at night. On Friday snow will be tapering off in Utah and cranking hard in the central and northern mountains in Colorado where I expect 9-18 inches to fall in many spots. My best powder guess would be a bullseye right over I-70 so many areas will see good amounts and especially the Vail Valley and perhaps Aspen depending on the exact track of the storm. Both the southern and northern mountains will do well with this storm.

 

The Chase:  

 

Wednesday PM- Park City, Solitude, Brighton (will see most during the late day)

Thursday-Alta for the a deep storm ski day and Wolf Creek for heavy snow beginning

Friday-Vail, Aspen, Copper, and most resorts along I-70 and North (Storm Ski Day)

Saturday-Good chance light snow continuing over the Divide and Gore Range

 

Long Term:  The pattern continues to show some deep storms coming by late in the weekend into early next week. If you are jumping on a flight for powder this would be a great time to click and go!  Early next week could be epic again.

Enjoy the freshies!

Powderchaser