SUMMARY: Light snow is currently falling on the Front Range of Colorado. Some freshening will make for some soft turns this morning at resorts closest to the Denver Metro area. All attention turns to an approaching storm for New England Tuesday night. Significant snow is likely for the Sierra late week that spreads over the Rockies late week. Even the Pacific Northwest and BC score some freshies this week. The Midwest also grabs freshies especially early this week!
FORECAST:
As of 4 AM, it appears from Webcams that resorts near Denver (Winter Park, Loveland, A-Basin) all have around 2 inches of new snow (Still snowing). Heavier bands of snow seem evident on the radar closer to Boulder and perhaps Rocky Mountain National Park and Berthoud Pass (CDOT cam). All action comes to an end by late morning. It's nothing but a teaser.
Light snow was also falling in the southern mountains of Montana where Big Sky appears to have light snow overnight with the white stuff still falling per webcams. Significant temperature drops may make for some super light density blower on top of a pretty firm layer this morning (2-4 inches). You may want to stick to the runs that were groomed last night.
Below: Big Sky ski area with light snow overnight and still snowing lightly.
New England will be our headlines early this week while the west will dominate the late week forecast.
Snow will begin falling in New England by Tuesday afternoon and increase at night. Wednesday will be a powder day for most resorts in New England. The path of the systems may favor central New Hampshire and Maine over northern Vermont. It's possible that areas of the Berkshires or south/central Vermont (Okemo, Mount Snow, Killington) score higher amounts than resorts in the north. These areas will see 6-10 inches by early Wednesday morning. Resorts further north may see slightly less. Resorts in central New Hampshire (Conway) and western Maine may grab even higher amounts (7-11). Plan to catch 1st chair on Wednesday in most of New England.
Below: Total snowfall through Wednesday mid-morning in New England. Highest amounts might fall near Conway and most of Maine. All of New England Ski areas will score some pow for 1st turns Wednesday.
EXTENDED FORECAST
The extended forecast is bringing decent moisture to many areas of the west late week. The Cascades of Washington and BC score a moderate dump by Friday (Mount Baker or Whistler may be slightly favored over southern areas). The Sierra will highlight the week with a teaser storm Thursday (3-6) followed by a decent storm for Friday night/Saturday (7-11). Temps in the Sierra start out warmish (6-7,000 feet snow levels) before turning colder later on the Saturday storm (Drops to 5,000). It may come in heavy and end drier. Another storm is possible for the Sierra Sunday/Monday with colder temperatures. That system is too far out to put much confidence in. Current models show quality improves in the later period (Lower snow levels). Total snowfall for the 7-8 day period is likely to exceed 1-2 feet in the Sierra.
Below: Total snowfall for the Sierra through Saturday PM (9-16 inches with model confidence at 50% this far out). Additional snow is possible Sunday/Monday?
Leftovers from the Cascades late this week impact the Panhandle of Idaho and spill some light or moderate snow into the Tetons and Wasatch by Saturday.
Heavier snow from the Sierra this weekend takes a southerly track with a good chance of moderate or heavy snow for most of the 4 corners late this weekend (CO, AZ, UT,) Significant amounts are possible. Some of that snow will push north into the Wasatch by Sunday with SW winds shifting to the west. That might bring a decent dump to the Wasatch. The Tetons and southern Montana (Big Sky) will also see moisture stream north impacting those regions with moderate snow late this weekend.
The forecast will be fine-tuned as the week progresses. Confidence is high for the Sierra and the 4 corners late this week. Confidence for a deep dump in the Wasatch or resorts north into Wyoming or Montana is moderate. The long range pattern for early February may stay active for the west in the 7-14 day period.
Enjoy the light powder this morning if you're on the slopes.
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Powderchaser Steve