Winter is holding on "In a big way" for the Utah mountains that were crushed in the past 48 hours. A very cold and potent storm stalled over Utah bringing some very impressive snow totals. We predicted this on our last forecast. Thus far unofficially in looking at snow telemetry here is what we are looking at for snow totals that will continue to build Tuesday night.
1) Alta - 46 inches (Still dumping)
2) Powder Mountain 25 inches on the telemetry (They underreported this morning)
3) Snowbasin (12-22 inches). Snow camera was buried, at 22 inches perhaps wind drifted, reports were deep.
4) Canyons side of Park City 12-15 inches, much less on the PCMR side.
Snowbird surpassed it's all time season to date snowfall totals previously at 783 inches now at 788 inches. This is for the history books. We are up here currently awaiting an opening.
Little Cottonwood has been closed since Sunday evening and in our eyes, might not open on Wednesday (No ETA). Check out the lowest pass rates for Ikon or renewals for the 23/24 season below!
On Monday however, the road remained closed and resorts opened providing country club skiing at both Alta and Snowbird. 10 inches had fallen by noon and the riding was great. Thank You Snowbird Ski Patrol!
On Tuesday while LCC, remained closed and inter lodge was in full effect the resorts in LCC remained closed. From experience and the current rate of snowfall in LCC, we are not optimistic for the road (Not happening early, might happen in the afternoon, might not happen at all).
Below: Nothing worse than being trapped inside watching other ski areas opening with deep powder. The payoff might come depending on terrain openings and road closures. If you are up here, you don't want the road to open. This chase is a complete bust or OMG, every day inside was worth the wait. @powderchasersteve
Below: Snowfall from Monday night to Tuesday at the Cliff Lodge. If you can't ride powder at least you can use the hot tub but "no thanks we will take the pow" @powderchasersteve
Below: Snowbird Cliff Lodge- Interlodge remains in effect Tuesday night and will likely extend into Wednesday morning. Snow will decrease early Wednesday. @powderchasersteve
The models show another strong wave moving over Utah on Tuesday evening. It's likely that Little Cottonwood Canyon picks up another 7-14 inches decreasing on Wednesday morning. This will likely bring storm totals to 50-60 inches. BCC did not fare nearly as well on this last storm with only 7-10 inches (only a short distance away). NW flow will also favor the Summit County Utah area with additional decent totals for the Canyons side of PCMR. Models also show some chances of light or moderate snow in the northern Wasatch near Powder Mountain but it's less likely to see deep totals there for Wednesday. I would hang out near I-80 and score freshies per the morning report in BCC or the I-80 corridor. Don't attempt to line up at LCC as it's not going to pop in the morning. Wednesday should be another powder day and many areas kept lifts closed on Tuesday. In LCC which has been closed since Sunday night look for terrain openings over several days.
Below: It's possible there is another 3/4 inch of moisture that falls in the Cottonwood Canyons Tuesday night which would translate to 12-14 inches of additional snow by Wednesday morning. Heavy snow will also be falling in the resorts along I-80 especially on Parleys Summit and on the west side of PCMR. Much less snow will fall in the core of Park City.
In Colorado moderate to heavy snow has fallen at many areas with higher amounts closer to the Front Range (4-7 at Winter Park, 8-10 at Eldora). The models show light snow continuing for Tuesday night favoring the areas north of I-70 near the Front Range, and further south towards Aspen and Telluride. NW flow could sneak out a moderate surprise near Telluride. Most of the action is moving north of Colorado Tuesday night.
In taking a look out in the extended, we see a ridge developing for the Rockies next week that might translate to another decent storm for much of the west by the middle of the month. Ski patrols will need this break after the current storm cycle for an endless amount of avalanche mitigation, nearly every day in some places in the past few months.
Below: High pressure noted for the Rockies and warmer temps for the weekend. Some storminess is possible for the PNW or Canada.
Below: April 14th might see a ridge break down with another decent storm possible mid month.
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