High pressure over the western US is finally breaking down, opening the door for incoming storms. Snowfall is on the way for areas ranging from the Pacific Northwest Cascades down into portions of the northern Rockies this weekend. Moisture-packed systems will enter the PNW starting late Friday, delivering heavy snow to the Washington and Oregon Cascades. As these systems shift inland, the northern Rockies will see significant snowfall by late Sunday into Monday, with solid accumulations expected in parts of Idaho and western Montana. Meanwhile, the mountains of Utah and Colorado will stay relatively mild and tranquil until Sunday evening, when a colder, more unsettled weather pattern begins to take hold. By early next week, northern and central Colorado mountains should see moderate snowfall totals. Additional snowfall opportunities are expected midweek, with systems continuing to target the Cascades, northern Rockies, and possibly northern Utah and western Colorado.
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Pacific Northwest
A strong Pacific frontal system will move into the region this weekend, bringing heavy snow above roughly 3,500 feet. The system will first arrive late Friday into Saturday, initially accompanied by high snow levels around 9,000 feet. However, colder air will filter in Saturday night into Sunday, driving snow levels lower and allowing for heavier snow accumulations. Washington’s Cascades, including Mt. Baker, Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie, and Crystal Mountain, are forecast to receive significant amounts of wet, dense snow, peaking Saturday night through Sunday. Timberline in Oregon looks to lead snowfall totals for the state. After a brief lull early in the week, another wave of moisture mid to late next week will bring additional snow to the northern Cascades and high-elevation areas of Oregon.
Storm Snow Totals
Weekend System (Saturday Night through Sunday):
- Mt. Baker (WA): 13-22"
- Stevens Pass (WA): 12-20"
- Snoqualmie Pass (WA): Total ~8-13" (1-2" Friday night + 1-2" Saturday night + 6-9" Sunday)
- Crystal Mountain (WA): 7-12"
- Timberline (OR): 10-17"
- Mt. Bachelor (OR): 2-4"
Midweek System (Wednesday Night through Friday):
- Mt. Baker (WA): 7-12" (some split over smaller waves)
- Stevens Pass (WA): 5-9"
- Snoqualmie Pass (WA): 5-8"
- Crystal Mountain (WA): 3-5"
- Timberline (OR): 3-5"
- Mt. Bachelor (OR): 1-2"
Northern Rockies (Idaho/Montana)
Conditions will remain relatively quiet through the first half of the weekend as the persistent ridge finally weakens. Snow will increase Saturday night into Sunday as a new system delivers moisture to north-central Idaho and parts of western Montana. Snow will become more widespread by Sunday evening into Monday, favoring the Idaho Panhandle and northwest Montana mountains. Areas such as Schweitzer and Whitefish should see meaningful accumulations, while the central Idaho mountains, including Bogus Basin, will likely see lighter totals. By late Sunday and early Monday, snow reaches northern Montana's Whitefish, driven by colder air and upper-level energy, then drops south to Big Sky and Bridger Bowl.
Storm Snow Totals (Late Weekend into Monday/Tuesday):
- Big Sky (MT): ~7-12" (Sunday night through Monday)
- Grand Targhee: ~6-9" (Sunday through Monday)
- Selkirk Powder (ID): ~6-10" (Saturday night through Sunday) + an additional 3-5" mid to late week. SELKIRK POWDER sits just to the north of Schweitzer and starts ski tours in January.
- Whitefish Mountain (MT): ~1-2" for Saturday night – Sunday (light amounts overall, with higher chances early next week)
- Bridger Bowl (MT): ~2-4" (Sunday night into Monday)
- Bogus Basin (ID): ~1-2" (Sunday)
Utah
Utah's mountains will stay mostly dry and mild through Sunday, though some valleys may see lingering overnight inversions. By late Sunday into Monday, a cooling trend and a passing cold front will bring light to moderate snow showers to the northern Utah mountains, including resorts like Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Brighton, and Park City. While totals won’t be massive, Monday’s snow should be enough to refresh conditions. The southern portion of the state will remain mostly dry into early next week. Below are the ECMWF (left) and the GFS (right, a little more bullish) forecasts:
Storm Snow Totals (Monday):
- Alta/Snowbird: 2-3"
- Solitude/Brighton: 2-3"
- Park City/Deer Valley: 1-2"
Colorado
Warm and tranquil weather will dominate through the weekend, with dry conditions across much of the state continuing into Sunday. However, a colder system moving in late Sunday into Monday will bring moderate snowfall to the northern and central mountains through Tuesday. Likely beneficiaries include resorts like Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper Mountain, and Vail, with the heaviest totals expected Monday into early Tuesday. Southern Colorado resorts like Monarch, Wolf Creek, and Telluride should see lighter but still measurable snow. Cooler temperatures early next week will help improve surface conditions after a dry stretch.
Below is the Canadian model forecast, which feels the most realistic at this time. However, there's a lot of uncertainty in this forecast and time for things to change. Stay tuned for updated forecasts as we get closer to the event next week.
Storm Snow Totals (Monday through Tuesday):
- Snowmass: 5-8"
- Steamboat: 5-8"
- Copper Mountain/Breckenridge: 3-5"
- Vail/Beaver Creek: 3-5"
- Winter Park: 4-6"
- Loveland/Arapahoe Basin: 3-4"
- Monarch: 3-4"
- Telluride: 3-4"
- Wolf Creek: 2-4"
Long-Range Outlook
After the early-week storms move through, the weather pattern looks to shift toward a more zonal setup, with occasional weaker systems passing through late next week. The Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies are expected to remain active, with steady, moderate snowfall likely. Utah and Colorado will probably stay on the fringes of these systems, with only smaller chances for additional accumulation. Temperatures should cool to more seasonable norms, with the potential for a shift toward a more active storm track beyond the current forecast period. Stay tuned for updates!
