The mountains specified in my post yesterday for Colorado all scored deep powder. Some surprise lower amounts happened in the northern Wasatch (Powder) who suffered warmer temps (Lower elevation) with low snow ratios. The central mountains of Colorado scored 9-15 inches in the past 48 hours with my wildcard \Steamboat\" scoring healthy double-digit amount. In Utah, Park City grabbed 5-10 inches Thursday (Wet) followed by 13 inches of much lighter density. The most snow will be found on the Canyons side (NW winds). Total snowfall at Park City is 26 inches in 24 hours.
Other winners (24-hour totals).
1) Snowbird 29 inches (Snow telemetry is a bit lower)/
2) Sundance 22 inches
3) Solitude 22 inches
4) Deer Valley 21 inches
Expect 2 feet of new snow in most of the Wasatch Front (Central and south favored) this morning. The northern Wasatch especially Snowbasin had more snow on Thursday but less overnight.
Snow continues to fall heavily in the central Wasatch Friday morning. Winds were blowing 40-50 MPH with gusts in the '70s. Winds will decrease late AM or early PM. Models show another .03 inches of water with snow ratios 20:1 (That's another 6 inches plus before noon). Little Cottonwood Canyon is closed until a minimum of 10 AM. There are avalanches across the road being cleared currently (Not verified). I would not be surprised if the road does not open until Noon. Optimist: 10AM.
In Colorado, the winds are shifting to the NW. This will focus a bit more energy towards I-70. Models show 3-6 inches is likely today in many areas of Summit and Eagle County (higher amounts further west). Aspen may grab higher amounts. Telluride who had 8 inches as of 5 AM may earn higher amounts. If I were in Colorado, I would most likely be chasing to Highlands or Steamboat this morning. The San Juan mountains would also be a great choice. Saturday will over 1-3 inches of new snow favoring the western I-70 corridor (Unstable NW flow).
There are times when very limited terrain opens at ski resorts. This may end up happening today in Utah, especially the Cottonwoods.
Models show another system moving into the Rockies Sunday/Monday. Yesterday it looked like a 6-12 inch event favoring Utah. Today, it may have shifted north a bit more towards the Tetons and possibly weaker. More on that with my next post.
Enjoy the powder everyone.
Powderchaser Steve
