SUMMARY:
Snow is continuing to fall this morning in northern Utah (Cottonwoods, and Park City) and in certain spots of Colorado this morning. All this is on top of the FEET of snow that has fallen in the past 2 days. The next 5-7 days looks promising for the Cascades, coastal BC, and most of Colorado in a 2 part series. Aim for the PNW, Canada, New Mexico, or Colorado this week.
FORECAST:
Light snow continues to fall this morning that could produce a really good \sneak up powder day\" for most of northern Utah. 4-5 inches are on the telemetry at Alta and its still snowing 1 inch per hour. Steamboat is also scoring some good quality frosting on top of the 20-inch storm totals from the previous few days. The next 5 days will offer several opportunities to chase powder.
Below: I am not sure any other resort shows storm totals and overnight on the same view. I like it!
The models are consistent in bringing in a decent cold trough for the Pacific Northwest moving down the Vancouver coastline Monday (Whistler could score Monday-Tuesday) and into the Cascades by late Monday night. Currently, many mountains of western Washington, Coastal BC, and Oregon are likely to see 9-14 inches of dry density powder by late Tuesday. The winds from the NW will favor the central and southern Cascades near Stevens or further south along I-90 and Crystal. Ride Canada on Monday (Last chair) and grab the 1st chair in WA for Tuesday.
Another system will pull moisture from the 4 corners Monday and bring 3-6 inches of snow to Wolf Creek and perhaps areas north of Durango (Purg). A more significant system is due for Wednesday for the 4 corners so keep reading! Most models don't show anything significant Monday, however, the NAM (Short term resolution model) is more bullish for Monday with an outside chance of 6-10 inches.
The most significant snow will occur mid next week in the extended.
EXTENDED:
Warm temps for the 4 cornersand a very moist atmosphere will bring an increase of snowfall for the 4 corners (Colorado and New Mexico favored) Tuesday night into Wednesday. Models show 12-18 inches are possible for the southern mountains including Taos bylate Wednesday. Unfortunately, temps are warm so quality may be a bit dense and most snow will fall above 9,000 feet. Both Wolf Creek and Taos are on my watch list (Good elevations). It will be raining in the lower mountain valleys.
Utah should grab the remnants of the Pacific Northwest storm on Wednesday. The models are downtrending amounts. The highest moisture may land further south towards Eagle Point or Brian Head. The northern mountains may come up short.
The storm over the 4 corners pushes north into the core of Colorado at some point Wednesday and Thursday. The highlights for moisture are difficult to pinpoint this far out. I have high confidence for a significant storm for the northeast plains of Colorado (You did not want to hear that unless you like to ski the flats). I have moderate confidence for Steamboat getting some decent action with a solid moisture plume on the Wyoming border. For Summit and areas further, west its likely that moderate snow is an early guess for a powder day late Wednesday or early Thursday. Warm temps initially in the 4 corners and most of Colorado will eventually drop by Thursday. Any further movement west will result in much higher snow totals for central and northern Colorado. Cofidence is high for the 4 corners Tuesday and Wednesday.
Below:Total snowfall for Colorado through Wednesday night. Additional snow will fall into Thursday favoring the northeast sections and perhaps Summit.
Bottom Line:Next week is a sure bet in the Cascades. The Rockies are nearly a sure bet for northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado (Warm) or Utah early to midweek. Other areas are a wildcard as moisture skirts east over the Plains and may circumvent some spots in western I-70 but land decent amounts towards the Continental Divide or even into Summit.
Powderchaser Steve
