Chase Powder Daily Snow

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By Powderchaser Steve, Forecaster Posted 6 years ago October 20, 2017

Cold air in the PNW is moving towards the northern Rockies with 6-12 inches likely in many areas through the weekend

Summary

Moderate to heavy snow is likely today over the Pacific Northwest with all action moving east over the northern Rockies late today and tonight. The sierra is getting teased with some light snow falling at most areas last night. The highlights in the Rockies may end up being central Idaho with the Tetons on watch. Colorado gets a tease for Saturday morning with some more snow possible in the extended forecast.

Short Term Forecast

Snow is falling over the Sierra where a wide area of 2-5 inches of wet snow has fallen in many areas above 7,000 feet.  A cold front will swing east today enhancing snowfall over the northern Rockies with highlights over central Idaho (Brundage) where up to a foot of snow should fall through Saturday afternoon.  Moderate snow will be found on the northern end of Ketchum towards Galena Summit and Stanley. Sun Valley should see light or moderate amounts at the summits through Saturday morning.

Significant snow is also likely in most mountain ranges of Oregon and Washington.  Convergence zones have set up this morning near Stevens Pass where snow is falling to the bases. Expect 8-11 inches in the central/northern Cascades of Washington and similar amounts over Mount Hood or Bachelor in Oregon. Cold air and decent moisture should produce some impressive amounts before warmer air moves in Saturday/Sunday.  Below: Web cam from Stevens Pass Washington

Snow if falling over the Sierra today with where 2-5 inches has fallen at upper elevations in many areas. A cold front will swing east today enhancing snow in the Pacific Northwest (WA and OR) with 8-12 inches likely over some favored spots like Mount Hood, Timberline Lodge, Stevens Pass (Convergence zone of cold air along and north of I-90) and perhaps spots just east of Seattle like Alpental or Snoqualmie Pass.

Snow will enhance over most of Idaho today with cold air and a decent shot of 6-12 inches over Brundage extending south into Sun Valley (2-5) through tonight.  Spots from Galena Summit and north towards Stanley may see higher amounts. "If I were chasing I would stay north of Jackson and perhaps head to Brundage if this was mid winter."   

Below: Total snowfall through late Saturday night 

Action moves east into the Tetons late today and tonight with models pumping out 4-7 inches over Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole Mountain at upper elevations.  1-3 inches is possible at lower elevations.  Northern areas of the Tetons may grab 5-10 inches through late Saturday night.   Snow showers with a slight warming trend will continue through Sunday so its possible that higher amounts are found by late this weekend over the Tetons (Several waves of light snow Saturday/Sunday).  

Colorado is getting teased with the slim picking leftovers late Friday night and early Saturday with my expectation of 1-3 inches over a wide area of locations of the northern and central mountain ranges. It's not exciting but who cares "Its October". 

Canada had a good run of POW in the past several days especially the peaks of many resorts on the interior where 1-2 feet has fallen.  Below: Summit of Kicking Horse Resort 

All action moves into the Tetons over the next 48 hours where 4-9 inches are likely favoring the northern areas of the mountain ranges (Northern ends of Teton National Park).  We expect Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to see 3-6 inches through Friday night and continued snow showers through the weekend.  "It's possible that 5-10 inches could be found at upper elevations of these resorts through Sunday morning but it's going to come in waves beginning late today through the weekend." Temperatures will be running well below normal through the weekend and higher snow totals will be found in the northern ranges of the Tetons.

Below:  Cold front pushing over Idaho and entering the western Wyoming Friday- Heavier amounts directly over central Idaho. Snow continues in Pacific Northwest with cold temperatures and some significant amounts likely through Friday night.

A cold front will swing east today enhancing snowfall over the northern Rockies with highlights over central Idaho (Brundage) where up to a foot of snow should fall through Saturday afternoon.  Moderate snow will be found on the northern end of Ketchum towards Galena Summit and Stanley. Sun Valley should see light or moderate amounts at the summits through Saturday morning.
A cold front will swing east today enhancing snowfall over the northern Rockies with highlights over central Idaho (Brundage) where up to a foot of snow should fall through Saturday afternoon.  Moderate snow will be found on the northern end of Ketchum towards Galena Summit and Stanley. Sun Valley should see light or moderate amounts at the summits through Saturday morning.

A cold front will swing east today enhancing snowfall over the northern Rockies with highlights over central Idaho (Brundage) where up to a foot of snow should fall through Saturday afternoon.  Moderate snow will be found on the northern end of Ketchum towards Galena Summit and Stanley. Sun Valley should see light or moderate amounts at the summits through Saturday morning.

Snow is falling over the Sierra where a wide area of 2-5 inches of wet snow has fallen in many areas above 7,000 feet.  A cold front will swing east today enhancing snowfall over the northern Rockies with highlights over central Idaho (Brundage) where up to a foot of snow should fall through Saturday afternoon.  Moderate snow will be found on the northern end of Ketchum towards Galena Summit and Stanley. Sun Valley should see light or moderate amounts at the summits through Saturday morning.

Significant snow is also likely in most mountain ranges of Oregon and Washington.  Convergence zones have set up this morning near Stevens Pass where snow is falling to the bases. Expect 8-11 inches in the central/northern Cascades of Washington and similar amounts over Mount Hood or Bachelor in Oregon. Cold air and decent moisture should produce some impressive amounts before warmer air moves in Saturday/Sunday.  Below: Web cam from Stevens Pass Washington

Snow is falling over the Sierra where a wide area of 2-5 inches of wet snow has fallen in many areas above 7,000 feet.  A cold front will swing east today enhancing snowfall over the northern Rockies with highlights over central Idaho (Brundage) where up to a foot of snow should fall through Saturday afternoon.  Moderate snow will be found on the northern end of Ketchum towards Galena Summit and Stanley. Sun Valley should see light or moderate amounts at the summits through Saturday morning.

Significant snow is also likely in most mountain ranges of Oregon and Washington.  Convergence zones have set up this morning near Stevens Pass where snow is falling to the bases. Expect 8-11 inches in the central/northern Cascades of Washington and similar amounts over Mount Hood or Bachelor in Oregon. Cold air and decent moisture should produce some impressive amounts before warmer air moves in Saturday/Sunday.  Below: Web cam from Stevens Pass Washington

Extended Forecast

Heavy snow in the Pacific Northwest trends to warmer conditions this weekend in Oregon, Washington, and BC. Expect increasing snow levels to the summits or higher in most areas that should bring moderate to heavy rainfall and perhaps some upper elevations snow this weekend.  That moisture weakens as it moves east over the northern Rockies producing snow showers at higher elevations of Idaho/Wyoming,  Next week shows a return to high pressure for most of the west with a chance of colder air and some moisture returning to eastern Wyoming and perhaps the Front Range of Colorado by late week.

Heavy snow in the Pacific Northwest today migrates to warmer conditions for the weekend.  Snow will change to rain at most elevations of the resorts late Saturday/Sunday with a drying trend likely for a good portion of next week.  Snow showers will linger in the northern Rockies this weekend with high pressure for the early to mid week period.  It's possible another cold front comes down over eastern or central Wyoming next Thursday and impacts the front range of Colorado late week? 

While the trend this season has been more snow in the northern Rockies it's way too early to draw any long term conclusions.  Conditions change and from my experience areas in the skunk hole can be deep in a short period of time. What is interesting to me thus far is respectable teases have been found in most spots of the west including the PNW, Montana, Utah, Tetons, Colorado (South and north).  Its only October! 

Heavy snow in the Pacific Northwest trends to warmer conditions this weekend in Oregon, Washington, and BC. Expect increasing snow levels to the summits or higher in most areas that should bring moderate to heavy rainfall and perhaps some upper elevations snow this weekend.  That moisture weakens as it moves east over the northern Rockies producing snow showers at higher elevations of Idaho/Wyoming,  Next week shows a return to high pressure for most of the west with a chance of colder air and some moisture returning to eastern Wyoming and perhaps the Front Range of Colorado by late week.

Announcements

Please follow the Chase for the deepest snow.  This post is updated as conditions change.  I am still in Mountain Bike mode in Boulder and kudos to Full Cycle Bike Shop that just built up my brand new rig that will be on the trails this weekend.  Stay safe as deep turns are on there way soon  If your in the PNW start hiking as the bases especially in Oregon are respectable for some fun early season turns.  Be aware of low tide!  My assumption is Timberline, Hood, Bachelor all grab respectable numbers.  

Powderchaser Steve 

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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