Significant snowfall hit the Tetons on Tuesday, with up to 19 inches being reported at Grand Targhee by later that day. Warming occurred by late morning with snow quality ranging from blower to multi-layer funk and wind drifts. It was a pure smorgasbord of powder. Warming has occurred in Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, with snow levels skyrocketing from 7K (Wyoming) to 9K in the Wasatch and Colorado. Quality will be lacking in the Rockies on Wednesday. The PNW and Canada might offer better chases. The Backcountry avalanche danger is rising rapidly in areas of the Rockies.
Below: You can see how deep the snow was at Targhee on Tuesday, early PM. Photo: @powderchasersteve via Instagram. 19 inches by 4 PM.
Below: Meanwhile, Providence, Rhode Island, outscored everyone with 40-inch storm totals a few days ago! Is anyone cross-country skiing on the beaches?
FORECAST ROCKIES
Models for the Rockies show many red flags. Warming has occurred in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. The snow level in Utah is starting at 9,000 feet (Is this still February?), with rain even in the lower Cottonwoods. Snow levels decrease throughout Wednesday to around 8K (Tetons will also cool). You might see 15 inches of wet snow at the upper peaks of the Wasatch. In the Tetons. The models have waffled with some showing the moisture bands dropping south of the Tetons. A few models still show 4-7 additional inches by 3 PM Wednesday.
Bottom Line: Stay out of the backcountry (Wind and dense snow- upside down in the Tetons). If you must ride on Wednsday, stay above 9,000 in Utah and above 7,000 feet in the Tetons (Ski areas). Colorado looks wet, with high snow levels on Wednesday, but cooling into Thursday (might see 5-10 inches of wet snow at upper elevations near or north of I-70).
Below: Avy warning in the Tetons is High above 7500 feet (This was issued on Tuesday).
Below: Short-term NAM pumps out another 1/2 inch of liquid for the Tetons, 3/4 inch for the Wasatch, and over an inch noted in northern Colorado. Due to higher elevation near the Continental Divide in Colorado, it is possible to see some upside totals when warm air on Wednesday cools into Thursday (Quality improves). Rain will be falling below 8500 initially.
Below: High winds are blasting the Tetons on Wednesday morning, but drop south later in the day. These winds are also noted near the Divide in Colorado.
Sponsor Alert!
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Short Term Chase: If you are looking for colder pow, you need to head to the PNW or Canada, where a short wave will overspread the area midday Wednesday to Thursday. This storm is not significant but should bring 4-10 inches of powder to the northern Cascades of Washington and most of BC in the next 24 hours.
Total snowfall from Wednesday morning to Thursday night. You can see the PNW and BC/Alberta in the pinks (near double digits), spreading south into northern Washington. The snow in the Rockies is representative of higher elevations only (Wet and wild). Head to the PNW or Canada if you want good quality and decent totals (5-10). North coastal resorts in BC grab much higher totals.
Extended POWDER?
March 1-9
A weak low zooms into the Sierra by March 2nd (Not really significant), followed by a stronger low that moves from Canada into the Northern Rockies at some point near March 7th-9th. This might bring some snow back to the Rockies.
Below: A 24-hour moving snow map shows some weak activity during the extended (3/1-3/10) period, perhaps a bit more in the PNW. Each blob is 24 hours.
Below: In looking at 7-day snow totals ending March 9th, things look a bit more exciting, but we are not willing to sign off on it just yet. It is hopefull thinking.
Announcement: INDY PASS-Starting today, the new renewal process will ask passholders to purchase their 26/27 Indy Pass at a discount ($349), which will automatically renew each year at the lowest guaranteed price. Link here
Announcement: Teton Heli sking- If you want to Heli Ski all the new powder in the Tetons, check out High Mountain Heli, which can take you to untracked high elevation powder. Mention Powderchasers for free swag! Conditions might be really good up there!
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