Mid winter conditions prevail across most of the west with over 26 inches reported in the last 2 days at Squaw Valley, Snowbird, Alta and Crystal Mountain with unusually low snow levels. The Trifecta Powder chase (3 States in 3 days-same storm) came to a halt as the Wasatch continues to see light to moderate snow and some of the best conditions of the season. I was able to capture 24 inches at Crystal in the Northwest where the chase began, 12 inches at the Canyons in Utah on day 2 and another 18 inches at Snowbird on day 3. I declare the Exacta!  My chance for the trifecta may come tonight as I head back to Washington State where up to 2 feet of fresh snow will fall by Saturday morning.

 

Colorado is now seeing the tail end of the storm where both Vail and Aspen picked up over a foot of fresh snow in the past 24 hours. It took nearly 2 days for that system to get there as it stalled over Utah since Wednesday.

 

Synopsis for the week ahead:

 

Heavy snow and strong winds will pound the Northwest Coast today and tonight where 15-25 inches will fall by Saturday morning but expect lift closures today from winds making Saturday a sure bet for the snorkel. Moderate snow will break out after midnight Friday in the Tetons and the Wasatch (Jackson Hole, Grand Targhee, Alta, Canyons) where 5-10 inches are likely by Saturday afternoon (Slightly less in Wyoming).  Colorado will see light snow through the period (3-5 inches). The real dealmaker is going to slam into the West late Monday into Wednesday where a classic mid winter (Northwest Flow) storm should provide 1-3 feet of fresh powder for the Rockies by Wednesday morning. This could be epic!

 

The Chase?

 

Saturday: Crystal, Baker, Stevens Pass (18-20 inches), or storm ski in northern Utah or Wyoming (4-8).

 

Monday PM-Tuesday: Northern Utah could be very deep especially Tuesday!

 

Wednesday-Central and Northern Colorado perhaps deepest at Steamboat or Vail