Idaho Daily Snow
By Coleen Haskell, Meteorologist Posted 7 years ago April 1, 2017
No Foolin’: Light Winds and Sunshine
Summary
Bluebird skies and light winds or on the menu for today to enjoy the recent snowfall that we received in the Boise and Sawtooth Ranges. Tamarack hit the 300” mark at the summit above Cascade Lake this season, and there’s just a ton of snow to go around, considering it’s April. There will be a very light snow event tomorrow night through sunrise Monday, just enough to keep things cool for another day or two before the temperatures punch into the warm territory with a ridge of high pressure extending well into Canada. The longer range forecast for next weekend features a very active and wet pattern but snow will be confined to the highest peaks. Whether it’s a backcountry yurt trip, pond skimming, or gaping, get out there and enjoy the events for this weekend as we wrap up an amazing snow year. This is certainly one for the record books that will be remembered for a long time to come. Along those lines, tomorrow will be the last Idaho Daily Snow for the season, with a transition to other mountain recreation.
Short Term Forecast
Bluebird Courtesy Bogus Basin
Today thorugh Monday
Following sunshine and light winds today, clouds will be moving in with a dusting of snow late Sunday and Sunday night. This little storm is coming through from Canada and really doesn’t have much moisture to work with. In its’ wake, however, there will be some very cold air dumping in from the Northern Rockies Monday night. Check out the graphic below with overnight low temperatures. The Lavender colors are single digits and we’re expecting about 10 degrees at Galena Summit in the Smokys Tuesday morning. Generally speaking teens will be the rule Sunday night and Monday night above 6,500 feet.
Low Temperature Forecast by Tuesday Morning
Courtesy National Weather Service
Regarding the avalanche conditions following Thursday’s blowing snow event, the Sawtooth Avalanche Center offers up this photo from yesterday of 3 foot deep wind slabs in the Soldier Mountains:
Be sure to check their website for updates: http://www.sawtoothavalanche.com/
Courtesy Sawtooth Avalanche Center
Extended Forecast
Tuesday April 4 through Monday April 10
High pressure will spike temperatures up into the 50’s by the middle of next week, with clear skies and light winds. Here’s a look at the forecast for the weather pattern showing the ridge (in Orange) flanked on either side by stormy troughs of low pressure (in Blue colors):
GFS Computer Forecast Weather Pattern for Mid-Week Courtesy WX BELL
Notice the bright Greenish/Yellow bullseye in the Gulf of Alaska? That feature has become nearly stationary and will continue to send waves of energy into the western U.S. for the extended term. In fact, by next Friday another ‘Atmospheric River’ type event will develop for the weekend. Snow levels will be above 7,500 feet, so most of it will fall as rain on our snowpack. Here’s a look at the upper feature (the Green Bullseye) as it takes aim on us next Friday:
GFS Computer Forecast Weather Pattern for Friday, April 7 Courtesy WX BELL
As for precipitation and snow amounts with next weekend’s storm, current forecast trends bring up to 2 inches of liquid precipitation into the Idaho mountains from Friday through Monday (in Red colors below). Notice the relative bullseye near Bogus Basin?
For the same time period, snow accumulations will be limited to the highest backcountry peaks in the Sawtooth and Smoky Mountains.
GFS Computer Forecast Precipitation for Friday, April 7 through Monday, April 10
Through Friday, April 14
The extended outlook through 2 weeks from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center continues to favor above-normal precipitation. Today’s depiction is an experimental product they have developed with Green colors showing the potential for a wet spring at least through mid-April.
Courtesy NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center
Thank you for reading. Don't forget the sunscreen today, Friends.
Coleen
Announcements
Today: Gaper Day at Bogus Basin, wear your retro 80’s gear!
Today: JANSS PRO- AM Classic “The Best Party on Snow”
Baldy, Sun Valley
Today: State of Idaho Pond Skimming Championships Tamarack Resort
Today: Boxzilla Challenge at Dollar Mountain, Sun Valley
Tomorrow: Sunday, April 2: Cold Bowl Pond Skim at Dollar Mountain – Last Day of the Season
About Our Forecaster
Coleen Haskell
Meteorologist
Coleen has over 30 years of weather forecasting experience as a Meteorologist with the Air National Guard, the National Weather Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. She currently lives in Boise, Idaho and spends as much time as possible skiing (alpine and nordic), as well as biking and hiking.
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