SUMMARY:
Many areas saw great powder days today with reports of blower in the back bowls of Vail (4-7), 12 inches at Snowbird (All overnight), 6-7 Jackson, and 20 inches overnight at Squaw. Things panned out as forecasted for the mountains of Utah with generally 5-10 inches in areas outside the Cottonwoods. Squaw opened up KT 22 at 10:30 this morning with a storm total of 3-5 feet. Heavy snow bands are continuing in the Sierra. We are watching a deep system for Arizona on Monday and possible areas of the 4 corners of NM and CO for the period. Utah scores some light snow Sunday/Monday. The Cascades also score some teases.
FORECAST:
Snow is falling currently in the Sierra primarily along I-80 extending south towards North Lake Tahoe resorts from some instability moisture that is dissipating on the radar. After a brief break Saturday night, light to moderate snow will begin falling in much of the Sierra at some point shortly after midnight into Sunday. Light to moderate snow will fall into the northern Sierra, with heavier snow on the models near South Lake. Kirkwood might be a deep bet for Sunday morning (6-11). Further north towards Sugar Bowl or Squaw/Alpine amounts will stay in the 4-8 range. Snow will continue to fall for most of Sunday morning adding to the totals from Saturday night. Pretty much any resort you pick in the Sierra will offer lots of opportunities especially since some terrain remained closed on Saturday. It has been the snowiest February on record for some resorts in the Sierra!
Below : I- 80 in California west of Donner Pass.
The Cascades grab teasers into Saturday and Sunday favoring the southern Cascades of WA and most of Oregon. The models seem to put more snow into the central areas of Oregon versus the notable resorts up north or Bachelor near Bend (Moderate amounts).
Other chases that are promising will include Arizona for Monday. The Snowbowl may nab 11-18 inches late Sunday into the day Monday. That system also impacts Colorado and New Mexico Sunday-Tuesday. The models don't excite me just yet since the bulk of the moisture may end up east of the Divide or south of many ski resorts. Wildcards are Purgatory, Telluride, Wolf Creek, and Ski Santa Fe. Confidence is slightly higher for Wolf Creek Pass (East side will be deepest). Some snow will also be falling in the central mountains of Colorado albeit lighter.
EXTENDED:
Looking ahead to chases late next week, our attention focuses to a moderate storm for the Cascades Tuesday night into Wednesday. That system quickly moves into the Sierra midweek and takes a southerly track over the 4 corners late week. Residual moisture will stream north into southern and central Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Most precip seems to stay south of the northern Rockies.
Another system drops in the Pacific Northwest late next week. This system is stronger than the midweek storm.
Powderchaser Steve
