I am providing a quick update on the detailed post from yesterday. Models are still onboard this morning for 8-11 inches overnight for the central and northern Cascades of Washington. Friday will offer dry density powder for 1st chairs. Caveat: Warm temps preceding this storm may form a crust layer below the new dry density powder. Stevens, Alpental Mount Baker are favored. The southern Cascades will see less.
The weekend storm slams into the PNW favoring the central and southern mountains of Washington and most of the Oregon Range. Oregon is likely to see the deepest storm totals by late Sunday. Plan to ride Sunday morning and again perhaps Monday as new terrain opens. Storm totals in the 12-18 inch range (Higher amounts in Oregon).
The Rockies benefit late Saturday-Sunday (Northern Panhandle of Idaho), western Idaho. The Tetons will see moderate snow for Sunday morning (4-8) with an additional 4-9 during the day (8-18). The Wasatch will catch up my mid afternoon Sunday where snow will continue into Monday with unstable NW flow. All mountains in Utah should perform well this weekend. To avoid holiday crowds in the Cottonwoods consider Powder Mountain, Beaver Mountain, Park City (Canyons side will be deep) and perhaps Snowbasin. Little Cottonwood is likely to be closed Monday morning. Big Cottonwood closures? - Possible but less likely. Best day to ride powder will be late Sunday and early Monday,
Colorado will see the heaviest snow late Sunday night into Monday. The Northern mountains are highlighted on the models with 12-18 inches for Steamboat and perhaps 7-14 elsewhere. There is a wide area of decent snowfall for much of western Colorado on the European models (Aspen, I-70 Corridor, Northern mountains, and even south to Telluride). NW flow can reap rewards north to south! The American Model shows less snow to the south and higher amounts north of I-70. I suspect decent totals will fall over a wide area of Colorado by late Monday afternoon (Ride Monday and Tuesday).
For Colorado, the GFS brings a 2nd system into the southern Mountains mid next week favoring the San Juan Range. The European Model is not onboard with this system. Its possible that a significant storm impact the Southern regions of Colorado and northern NM by mid next week. Low confidence at this point due to the disagreement in the models.
Powderchaser Steve
