7 Day Powder Forecast

 

A pattern change is finally taking shape for the West as a series of light to moderate precipitation events is on tap for the next 7 days in the Northwest and Rockies. Most of the best snow will be seen in Northern Colorado and areas of Wyoming as a series of cold fronts sets off orographic snow showers both Tuesday/Wednesday and again this weekend. A 3rd and perhaps stronger system is expected early next week.

 

Snow will break out over the Tetons tonight (4-7 inches) and drop into Northern Colorado by Tuesday morning. Winds should favor the Steamboat area early (5-9 inches on Tuesday) and eventually bring moderate snow to the Front Range resorts especially south of Denver by Tuesday night. Winter Park, Eldora, and Loveland should all see snow in the light to moderate amounts which will primarily fall Tuesday afternoon and night.

 

The Wasatch of Utah will get brushed with light snow until possibly a slightly stronger system drops in this weekend and early next week. The good news is that this pattern might be a hint at a more typical La Nina versus our strong El Nino that has been the pattern all winter dropping the heaviest snows in the southern Rockies and Tahoe basin. The Northwest is finally back in the action!

 

The Chase?  I would hit the Tetons on Tuesday morning for the 4-8 fresh however if you like storm skiing consider Steamboat where snow will be starting to fall early. Wednesday might take me up to Loveland, ABasin, Echo Mountain,  or perhaps Eldora as winds shift to the Northeast favoring the resorts closer to Denver.

 

The last storm had me scrambling for resorts as winds shifted from Northwest, to West, veering Northeast and finally due East which resulted in a challenging chase landing me in 10 inches of wind impacted powder in Vails back bowls virtually to myself.   Aspen edged out the best with over 13 inches last Saturday of which everything fell from 6am to 1pm making it one of the best kept secrets to anyone other than locals!

 

More light to moderate snow is expected this weekend and a perhaps a more powerful one by Tuesday next week?

 

Powderchaser Steve

POWDER ALERT UPDATE:

 

Fast moving cold front still on track to sweep through the Rockies late on Thursday and last well into Friday night especially over areas near the Continental Divide in Colorado. The front is a bit east of the Wasatch so accumulations there will only be in the 4-9 inch range by Friday. The Tetons will also see light snow on Thursday evening and Friday. The brunt of the storm is going to slam the Front Range of Colorado on Friday PM and early on Saturday when the winds shift to the Northeast (Saturday might be deep at Winter Park, Eldora, or perhaps Loveland). The real wildcard will be a good chance of decent accumulations over Steamboat and perhaps Vail on Friday morning since the early part of this clipper has winds from the Northwest! Once the winds shift late Friday morning to the North Winter Park should get hammered.  This will spell well for perhaps 6-10 inches at Steamboat, Vail (slightly less) and depending on the track perhaps some light to moderate amounts in the Aspen Valley (??). My sure bet will be the Front Range however I am confident of some moderate snow elsewhere in Summit County (A Basin, Keystone). My chase might take me to Steamboat, Winter Park, or perhaps Vail on Friday and keep me closer to Denver on Saturday (Eldora, Loveland, A Basin, Winter Park).  The snow will be light due to very cold temps so expect deep dust on crust from the warm temperatures in the past 3 days. Please post your weather or updates on the forum page!

 

Powderchaser Steve

POWDER ALERT!

 

This storm has me fired up this morning as great potential to bring 12-24 inches of snow to many areas of the Rockies Friday/Saturday. What really stands out at this point is a strong cold front and Northerly winds would could spell well for a very broad area of snow for the Rocky Mountains including Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, most of Colorado. The 4 corners of Colorado will still do well however I think the chase might keep me up north for this one especially the Wasatch, Tetons, and the Aspen area of Colorado who do well with Northerly flow. Light to moderate snow will start in the Wasatch and Tetons on Thursday but turn heavy early Friday when the coldest part of the storm tracks directly over northern Utah and Wyoming. Heavy snow will begin in northern Colorado on Friday with the best shot of a super deep day on Saturday. I will issue an update on this storm as things develop however at this point you might want to consider taking the chase for both Friday and Saturday! Freshies will be deep!

 

Chase picks?  Still a bit early to jump but my early prediction is hit the Wasatch or Tetons on Friday and anywhere in Central  or Northern Colorado for Saturday (Aspen, Steamboat, Vail, seem favored but Summit and even areas around Telluride should do well).  Snow should linger on the Divide of Colorado into Sunday before high pressure briefly returns early next week.

 

Please post your real time reports on the powderchasers forum!  We need your input.

 

POWCASTER Update for the next 7 days!

 

A  sigh of relief for the Northwest after an extensive dry spell comes to an end where a powerful storm will stall over western Washington/Oregon/BC today through Friday evening bringing snow totals to 12-24 inches by Saturday morning. Mount Baker at 7:30 AM today had picked up 5 inches in the past 4 hours and it just started to snow at Crystal Mountain. Snow levels will be very low making for mid winter conditions. I would pick Friday for storm ski pick of the week!

 

The Sierra  will see moderate snow starting Friday late morning turning heavy late in the day with a powder day in the bets for Saturday AM (11-15 inches).  Snow levels will be very high Friday making for some wet springtime conditions however a sharp cold front will put a good 4-8 inches of dry fluff on top of that by Saturday morning.

 

The Rockies get into the action by Saturday afternoon with moderate snow likely in the 4 corners and a decent chance of 5-11 inches in the Wasatch by Sunday morning. The Weather Guru's are not calling for much in the northern mountains however I have a suspicion that