Summary:
Moderate to heavy snow will be falling in the San Juan Ranges of Colorado for Thursday with some powder pushing north into the I-70 corridor for some freshening during the day. Heavy snow is likely once again for Canada especially Whistler for Thursday/Friday. The Sierra is on tap for Saturday.
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Forecast:
High pressure has taken hold of the west in the short term. A fast-moving storm will swing up from the Baja with a moisture tap and warm temps for the 4 corners Thursday. Ahead of this system very warm temps with the southerly flow could see our first temps of 2021 in the '60s in some of the metro areas on the western slope (Fruita MTB anyone?). This storm while it has a moisture tap being on the warm side is likely to produce 6-11 inches for most of the southern San Juan Range (Silverton, Wolf Creek, Purgatory). Thursday morning could be decent, however, with warm temps don't expect blower. Telluride should also see decent totals with the wind shift to the North or NW by early Thursday morning (4-8). The central and northern mountains of Colorado will see snow during the day Thursday including the I-70 corridor (3-7). Even Steamboat sometimes sneaks in decent totals with SW flow (Moisture streams north on the west side of the mountain ranges into the Craig and Steamboat Valleys). Bottom Line: Chase Wednesday night for Thursday powder albeit dense in the San Juan Ranges. Chase Thursday for storm skiing along I-70 (Freshening). Let's hope the storm over performs.
Below: Projected totals are the highest in the San Juan Range for Thursday morning (5-11) with the I-70 corridor in the 3-6 inch range. Winds shift to the NW Thursday so it's possible some sneak up higher totals could come in for the I-70 corridor beyond the projections below (Snowing on Thursday).
Below: Powderchaser Steve sending some freshies at Snowbird last Saturday on his Never Summer Harpoon. @powderchasersteve via Instagram
Extended
The extended forecast features a decent system to impact coastal BC towards the Thursday-Friday timeframe. Significant amounts of snow are likely for Whistler (Oh -Canada how we wish we can visit you). The northern Cascades of Washington might fare well for Friday (Mt Baker). That system drops lighter snows for the central and southern Cascades late this week before setting up a decent event for the Sierra by Saturday (6-12). Moisture from the Sierra weakens as it moves east over Utah producing light to moderate snow for Sunday. Some light snow is also likely for the Tetons late this weekend.
Below: Several feet of snow is possible for the western sections of Canada through the end of the week with cool temps.
Enjoy the powder everyone! While it's warm in many areas this week keep your snow tires on! Things can change quickly so don't get caught unprepared. Follow along our chases by checking out @lstone84 on Instagram.
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Powderchaser Steve
