Chase Powder Daily Snow

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By Powderchaser Steve, Forecaster Posted 6 years ago October 5, 2017

Snow zips from the Northwest this weekend into the north central Rockies intensifying as it gets to central Wyoming and Colorado early next week.

Summary

Models are trending for light snow over the most of the western Cascades Friday night/Saturday. Whistler also nabs some teases with snow falling from mid mountain to the summits this weekend. That system cuts diagonally south through northern Montana, central Idaho, interior Wyoming and will eventually set up somewhere over Colorado early next week. Its possible that another foot or more could land in some spots of Colorado by early next week?

Short Term Forecast

Light to moderate snow will be falling from Whistler late this week into the north Cascades.  That system quickly moves over northern Montana and zips over central Idaho and far eastern Utah (Uinta range is favored).  Light snow is likely in the Tetons with deeper amounts found in central Wyoming. Several inches may pile up just north of Interstate 80 in Wyoming (Central zones of the State).  That system may intensify as it works south and eventually lands in Colorado late Sunday or Monday.  Current models are showing different solutions for Colorado.  The GFS model is trending deeper with a focus in the northern San Juans (12 inches plus) extending up into most of central Colorado (Resorts such as Telluride, Aspen, Silverton, Sunlight, Monarch, Snowmass may be favored).  Winds are northerly which can provide magic to the northern San Juan range.  There is a also a trend for upslope (NE or Easterly winds) at some point during the storm which will favor spots along the Continental Divide near Denver. "It's likely that the Denver Metro area will see it's first snow flakes of the season late Monday or Tuesday" Many areas of Colorado should see some snowfall early next week! 

Below:  Total snowfall through Tuesday mid morning for much of the northwest and Rockies

The Euro solutions which we can't share images shows a trend for a wetter solution in eastern Colorado and less snow for the San Juans.  That will change as models tend to come into better consensus in the next few days. 

Below: Total snowfall through early next week in Colorado (GFS MODEL) on the more bullish model currently (12 plus for the San Juans and most of central Colorado)

My take at this point while it's still several days out is that a general trend of 5-10 inches is likely for many mountains in Colorado early next week.  Higher amounts are likely south of Interstate 70.  The front range will see snowfall for it's first time this season. 

Extended Forecast

High pressure is likely in many areas mid next week before another system may impact the Northwest late or the following weekend. 

Powderchaser Steve 

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About Our Forecaster

Powderchaser Steve

Forecaster

Powderchaser Steve has over 45 years of experience chasing storms based on his weather and local knowledge of resorts on both the East and West Coasts. His snow intel will likely land him at the deepest resort and almost never missing "First Chair" in the process. Follow "The Chase" on OpenSnow to find out where the deepest snow may be falling.

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