Open Snow Northwest

A new weather system will be moving in later today with increasing precipitation rising snow levels. This system will be drawing up warmer air and the snow level will go up to 5000 ft.

The good news is the exposure to the peak of the mild air will be brief -- only about 5-8 hours. There will be rain or rain / snow mix on the lower and medium slopes of the Cascades. Whistler will do a tad better, being farther north will a SL of 4500ft – but still see some wet snow mid - mountain.

By early Saturday everyone will see plunging snow levels, as the front moves on. The snow levels will bottom out near 2500-3500 ft . Expect improving quality Saturday morning with 4-8” new snow and snow showers during the day (1-4”). The nice recovery will facilitate some powder skiing.

High pressure moves in Sunday through much of the week. That means partly to mostly sunny skies on the ski slopes next week. Expect spring like ski conditions for next week, not only for the NW, but much of the Western US with warmth and lots os sunshine.

Models indicate a return to more active weather (snow) by mid February.

Larry Schick, Meteorologist

Open Snow