I ordinarily don't issue powder watches but at this point am so starved for some flakes that I wanted to give you an early alert to what looks like a very good storm pattern for next week! First and foremost if you are desperate for the deep jump a flight to Japan and head to the Niseko Region where they are just  a few inches shy of a 100 inch base at upper elevations. I am attaching an excellent powder video of what things looked like today http://www.htholidays.com/daily-flake    The sad news in the West was the announcement of a temporary closure of Cypress Mountain in BC due to rain and warmer than normal temperatures. The closure was an attempt to preserve the Olympic Course. Snow at upper elevations with rain in the lower areas will be the agenda for next week.  What about the Rockies?

The main event and news you have been waiting for is the breakdown of the high pressure ridge beginning

Good morning and please take a moment of silence to recognize Mark Wolling (Big Wally) from Jackson Hole Ski Patrol who was caught in a large slide while doing avalanche control work in Cheyenne Bowl last week prior to the lifts opening for public. He passed away last night while fighting for his life over the last 3 days.  http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=5488     He was doing what he loved most!

The next 7 days is not going to bring any significant snowfall to the Rockies however a splitting storm should put down some fresh snow on Wednesday/Thursday with most of the energy going towards New Mexico. The northern branch might give the Wasatch 3-6 inches by Wednesday night however unlikely to reach the chase criteria. The Southern mountains of Colorado should pick up light snows both on Wednesday and Thursday. The Northwest is going to see 2-4 inches of rain even at mid mountain levels as the rain/snow line approaches 7,000 feet.  Most of the rain will fall on Monday and Tuesday and there is a glimmer of hope for more snow in the Northwest later in the week as temperatures begin to fall.

The optimistic news is that there are some models depicting a pattern change for

Moderate to heavy snow event headed to the northern mountains of Wyoming, Idaho, and Colorado late Tuesday-Wednesday night with up to a foot possible in some spots especially the further north you travel.. Snow will break out in Wyoming/Idaho after midnight tonight and continue through Wednesday with up to 8-10 inches likely over the Teton range with higher amounts in the Yellowstone area. Colorado will see heavier snow beginning Wednesday morning primarily over Steamboat and to a lesser extent over the Gore Range of Vail and the  divide however decent amounts might accumulate by late Wednesday night (4-8). The chase would include resorts in Wyoming/Idaho and from my best guess the Wednesday afternoon skiing at Steamboat will be moderately deep. I would watch for decent powder at Winter Park and perhaps the divide by late Wednesday as the flow shifts from West to Northeast which will favor Loveland and the Front ange. This is a sharp cold front coming out of the Northern Rockies which will set up good orographic snows for the following areas:

Photo: Powder Day Photography-Grand Targhee Idaho 1/1/2010