First Snow to sweep accross the Northern Rockies!

After one of the warmest Septembers on record for many areas get ready for a blast of arctic air in the Rockies on Wednesday and again on Friday/Saturday!  Gladly we can report that snowfall will be piling up in North Central Montana especially near Billings and Missoula  through Wednesday above 4,000 feet (4-8 inches) and slowly move South and East through the Dakotas.  Areas near Yellowstone on the Montana border should also see snow. This system is carrying arctic air with low temperatures in the 20′s in many areas by Wednesday morning in the North!

Wednesday Snows for the Northern Rockies

On Friday, another cold front will sweep south through Wyoming bringing a dusting of snow to the Tetons and higher amounts along and North of I-80 towards the Eastern side of the divide (Laramie and East) Colorado could see snow on the Northeast border Friday night however most ski areas will not be impacted with the exception of perhaps some light snow near Steamboat.

Long Term?  The models depict high pressure returning next week however it looks promising for some moisture under warmer air next weekend (October 12-14) for the Southern and Central Rockies.  Snowfall might be possible at the highest elevations. 

Powderchaser Steve

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      • Sunday is looking like the better day to me. Looks like most of the snow will be falling after 11pm. Baker will most likely get the most at first. Then wherever the convergence zone hits will be better Sunday so Alpental or Stevens. I happen to like Alpental a lot more so I will probably be there.

  9. FYI, Wolf Creek isn’t “closed”. The lifts aren’t running and the base facilities aren’t available, but the hill is still there and there will be fresh snow. It’s public land and uphill traffic is always allowed. Real powderchasers shouldn’t mind earning their turns. Some of my best days at WC have been after the lifts have closed and it’s me and a few friends w/ the whole place to ourselves.

  10. FYI, Targhee had some serious dumpage Sat. and is getting hammered today. Monday is going to be awesome so if your in the neighborhood get here early for first tracks.

  12. just donated and have loved the site this season. question: is it worth heading down to SLC tonight(sunday) from Jackson Hole for Monday/Tuesday to chase and then moving eastward into CO for Tuesday/ Wednesday.

    Looks like San Juans and Front Range are the best. Any options to ski the San Juans..Wolf Creek is closed..Telluride closed..love to ski Telluride too bad. Silverton is booked out until late next week.
    Any feedback on cat skiing in Sanjuans possibly..Tuesday/ Wednesday looks like WP could be fun!

    • I am chasing to Utah for a moderate storm day Monday. I then will head to CO but think the front range is best. Monarch might do well Monday night? Breckenridge also? I think it is worth the chase. I booked a 115 flight back to CO for Monday PM. I have 3 chase cars

    • THE following weekend looks unsettled for Colorado and showing more storms for the northern Rockies. The Sierra looks more unsettled by the middle of that week

  15. Hey love the site. I am planning a school ski trip to Wolf Creek this weekend and was wondering if it is a good choice for some good snow? My options are either NM or Southern Colorado. Hows the snow looking? Thanks!

    • Not much chance of much powder, perhaps a few inches Saturday night with some weak ripples moving through. Expect warm spring like conditions. They have a great base there!

    • Some moisture is noted on the 10th so you might have some powder on the 11th but nothing impressive at this point. High pressure possible after that. Models change that far out!

    • models are active showing light to perhaps moderate snow 4/7 and 4/8. They then bring in a larger system on the 8th and 9th however don’t pinpoint location well. The flow might favor Colorado but if I had to guess it looks likely for snow at the Bird

  21. What looks like a better bet for next weekend Utah or Tetons? Looking at Snowbird or Grand Targhee. Targhee looks borderline for snow and rain based on NOAA. But lots of precipitation.

  22. In Whistler now – very warm spring conditions. Looking to chase next Wednesday to Sunday (April 3 to 7 or 8). Would be ideal to stay in Canada but not ruling out US. Once you know where to head drop me a line. Thanks.

    • Hi Drewsers:

      you might be in luck! Looks like warm moisture arrives on the 6th but a cold front blasts right through Whistler on the 7th so lower snow densities likely late in the storm. Might be deep? Lets hope the models hold onto this solution.

      • Yes – let’s hope for that. Any thoughts on something for earlier in the week – like 3rd to 4th or 5th – I heard something about snow in the interior forecast – will then return to Whistler around the 7th if the model holds up.

    • Not a wash out! You will likely see some scattered rain showers in town primarily in the PM and snow showers above mid mountain. The snow will be soft and in many ways very good especially high up.

    • That is an open ended question? Powder can be favored in the northern wasatch such as Snowbasin and Powder Mountain, Park City or the Canyons under Southerly flow (Canyons does well with NW flow also), or Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude under NW flow. Winds make all the difference (direction). Generally the most snow falls in little and Big Cottonwood Canyon but not always!

    • The models show moisture over that area on early in that period you will be there. Might be warm so possible snow high and mix down low. Cold air is lacking.

  27. Hi

    My family are coming over from the UK and we are headed to Whistler on Sun 1 Apr to Thurs 5 April. Praying for precipitation! What’s our chances of some snow there during that time?

    Thanks for your time, love the site.

    Cheers
    Muffback

    • The conditions at Whistler are fantastic right now. Unfortunately, little chance of deep powder. Perhaps some snow on the 4th or 5th with a better shot on the 7th.

  28. Hi guys, love your work I must donate. I am currently in Santa Fe, NM. Will be heading North to BC over the next couple of weeks and would love to chase powder on our way back. Can hit anywhere from California through to Colorado. Any suggestion? Thank you in advance much appreciated.

    • I just ran the modela and things look VERY active on day 7 It looks like BC, interior especially towards Revel, and inland. This week does not look active but next will be. The pattern might continue for several days

  29. Hi guys, love your work must donate. I am currently in Santa Fe, NM heading North eventually to end up in BC. However, over the next two weeks can you recommend any ranges that may have a better chance of a bit of pow. Can pretty much get anywhere through the sates between us and BC. Any help much appreciated. Thanks

  30. Yesterday was a decent surprise pow day at Breck with 16″ over two days and lots of deepness in our favorite stashes with relatively few spring gapers, er, breakers, on the mountain. Definitely knee-thigh deep in some locations. Heading out again today in search of stashes.

    • There is some precip on the northwest coast above Whistler Tuesday and Wednesday that does not make it to the interior. Whistler and BC get very active towards the end of the week looking light to moderate but perhaps heavy by late next weekend

    • See below comment on question similar to yours. Not sure what options you have at this point but will certainly issue a statement if anything changes

  37. Steve,

    It’s noon at Mt. Baker and its still basically light rain at the base, and even the top is wet and heavy. What is your confidence that the temps will drop in time to have good pow for tomorrow? How was Crystal skiing today? Would
    that be a better choice for tomorrow?

    I sent you something the other day via paypal to say thanks for the great site. I just registered, but I’ve been using it since 2011.

  39. Hi. We’re hunting for pow next week, March 24-28th coming from Portland, OR. What are your thoughts about Targhee, Big Sky, or eastern BC? Thanks!

    • HMMM? The models show light snow the weekend you arrive over tht Tetons and a distinct high pressure for Monday-Wednesday. On Tuesday more moisture comes into the NW and moves into the Sierra Wednesday/Thursday. The models show that moisture extending up into Eastern BC, and the NW and eventually into the Tetons on Thursday or Friday. It is not a typical Westerly flow. Almost Southerly. If I had to guess, perhaps think about BC as we get more accurate data on the models. I think mid next week could be active. I am not confident for Targhee until perhaps Friday

  40. I have next week (March 23-31) off and hoping to find some new snow. Driving from Denver, and willing go anywhere within an 8-10 hour driving radius (Taos, Wolf Creek, Utah, Jackson, Montana….) Any best bets? Thanks so much!!

    • Right now the mountains West of Denver should see snow showers all weekend (Light to moderate amounts). High pressue settles in for the early week and most of the activity might be in the Sierra by Wednesday (Your week) and extending into the Tetons by late week. I think there is a good chance of a decent mid to late week storm favoring the north. Please check back by Friday this week (Re post) as it might be more clear to me. Models change drastically in anything more than 7 days out.

  41. I know it’s a longer time frame oubut I was wondering what you saw on your radar for the last weekend in March for West Virginia, particularly SnowShoe and surrounding areas? How much inn terms of snow accumulations and cold temps? (March 29-31) BTW, you were spot on for my Utah trip this past March 7-11! Thanks

    • You are one of my first East Coast questions! WOW! honestly you might be on to something really good. I see lots of moisture at the tail end of the month 29, 30, 31 but perhaps deeper storm on April 1st! Not an April Fools Joke! It acually looks cold? Is that possible? Please donate if I am remotely on again for you.

      • While in UT, 12-15″ was recorded over the whole trip @ Brighton. I am actually based out of NC and just a traveler. Took a few weather classes back at UNCW. Hoping WV gets some freshies the last weekend in March. Keep me Posted with update. Ill be sure to donate!

    • The models show the deepest moisture now streaming along the Coast. My prediction is 7-12 in the Mt Washington Valley. Definate snow, moderate to heavy but might not be the 2 feet forecasted? We like Wednesday as a powder day and Tuesday as a storm ski day. There will be snow flying there Tuesday morning and a dry slot by afternoon. Snow picks back up Tuesday night into Wednesday so both days might be good to chase. Please let us know how you make out and make a donation if you can?

  43. Checking back in for the Jackson Hole forecast for 23rd – 28th of March. If it isn’t looking good for the Teton area for that week, where else would you recommend?

    • The Northwest will be more active however might be higher snow levels (Warmer). The Tetons should pick up moderate snowfall on the 24th, light snowfall on 26,27 and perhaps heavier snowfall on the 29th. Does not look epic but not bad either! You will have powder and at this time of year you gamble temperatures and amounts.

  44. Steve, what are you seeing for the very end of March for the Northwest/Interior BC. Will that pesky ridge develop resulting mild weather or might we still have a good cold weather flow? Thanks for guidance.Its going to be my last chance for this season :(

    • The models look very moist from the 24th through the 29th. Might be relatively high snow levels at this point but moisture is certain. This week looks even wetter with heavy snow/rain Tuesday night and Wednesday (More in the Cascades than BC) but more snow in BC by next weekend.

  45. Hi fellow snow sliders,I am heading out of Southeastern WA next Monday late afternoon and looking to find some freshies before I need to return late on the 23rd. I know that the Cascades are getting hit right now, with another wave My original plan was to chase pillows up in interior BC since that is only a 6 hr drive for me and I’ve already gotten canadian dollars. (Baker is a 6 hr drive too, 3.5 to Alpental, 4 to Steven’s, but I’d like to find the best conditions and settle there) I loved Whitewater last year and would like to get to Red or Revelstoke too. I’ve heard they got some serious rain (along with everywhere else) and avie danger is quite high. I tend to ski storm days inbounds and bluebird days backcountry. Right now, if Baker is lining up for a crazy good week, I might do that, but BC is the same distance and super fun. Thanks for any advice, Tom

      • I am flying out to Seattle on Tuesday. My plan is to stay in the NW Cascades. I believe that Crystal will see the heaviest snow on Wednesday but with 4,000 foot snow levels making it heavy (Not epic). It might turn cold by noon so perhaps by 3PM faceshots. All mountains will get 5-10 more cold snow Wednesday night with Baker and Stevens favored. Convergenze zone might dump another 15 inches over Stevens Pass for Thursday. Baker could see 2-3 feet in the next 4 days. Interior gets snow but the models look warm there too. I dont think they will get as much? The low is in North Vancouver and edges south along the coast. I could be wrong! My expertiese is the Rockies but I am getting better at the NW.

    • We see some snow on the 24th in Park City and again possible on the 29th. The temperatures have been warmer than average so once we get closer you might have to chase to some higher elevations for the deepest.

  47. Hey Steve,
    Snowforecast.com is calling for a second storm Thurs/Fri in the Sierras after the Tues dump….does that make any sense to you? Sorry about your booboo….. ;(

    • No. the system in CA will produce moderate amounts from Tuesday night through Thursday. The lingering effect Wednesday evening and Thursday is likely, but Friday goes to high pressure. My early guess is 6-10 inches.

    • Too early to say? I don’t think the moisture will be in Colorado until Thursday PM through Friday. Not a huge system but certainly a freshening. Might not hit the powder alert criteria of 12 inches or more?

  49. I like this weekend! Sunday and Monday have decent cold air, and most likely 7-9 inches or more. Not a huge storm but a good blast of winter like conditions. Most moisture stays over Wyoming and Montana versus the Wasatch.