Canadian Rockies Daily Snow

Heads up, there may be fresher snow! Read the latest Canadian Rockies Daily Snow

By Bob Ambrose, Forecaster Posted 1 year ago November 25, 2022

One – Two Pow Punch, then a Deep Freeze

Summary

The first of two northerly storm systems will move down the spine of the Rockies on Friday bringing 5 – 15cm of snowfall to most locations. After a stint of high pressure on Saturday, our next slightly stronger storm system with origins in the Gulf of Alaska will move through on Sunday bringing 10-20cm of snowfall. A dry arctic deep freeze moves in Monday and stays through the week.

Short Term Forecast

Below: It's been snowing at Marmot Basin since early Friday morning with about 5cm so far. 

Now for the Forecast: 

Friday: Snowfall Warnings have been issued for Banff and Jasper NP’s for the day on Friday. A cold front is currently moving into the Rockies from the north bringing periods of light snowfall Friday morning. Webcams indicate snow falling at Sunshine, Lake Louise and Marmot Basin where 5cm has already fallen. This system will slowly move south into Kananaskis Country and the South Rockies by Friday afternoon and evening. 

Have upped expected storm totals (thru Friday night) to 10 - 15cm at Marmot and Louise, with 5 – 10cm at Sunshine. Castle Mountain which opens for the season on Saturday should see 5 - 10cm as well with 2 – 4cm at Nakiska and Norquay. 2200m high temps of -2C. Gusty SW winds 15kph with gusts to 30kph along the ridges.
 
Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated afternoon snow flurries. Trace accumulations possible. High -7C at 2200m. W/SW winds 20-50kph along the ridgetops.  

Sunday: The brunt of the Gulf of Alaska storm system moves in late Saturday night. The front will take a similar north to south track along the crest of the Rockies with overnight snow accumulations of 10 – 15cm greeting first chair early risers at Marmot Basin, Lake Louise and Sunshine. West facing slopes will be favored. Elsewhere, 3 – 6cm at Norquay, Nakiska, Powderkeg and Castle. 

For the day on Sunday, periods of snow spread south through the day gradually tapering off north to south by the late afternoon to the north at Marmot. With the frontal passage east winds are progged to develop that could bring bands of intense snow showers for Kananaskis Country. Additional accumulations of 5 – 10cm at the SkiBig3 resorts and Marmot, with Nakiska, and possibly Castle seeing 10 to 15cm.  Cooler.  Temps at 2200m, morning low of around -11C with an afternoon high of -9C. NW winds to 15 - 30kph.

Monday: An arctic high pressure ridge pushes south out of the Yukon and NWT on Monday drying the Rockies out and ushering in frigid temps. Morning low of around -20C with afternoon high of -17C (2200m). Light N/NE winds. 

Tuesday: Cold and dry. Sunny skies. Dangerously cold wind chills. Actual surface temps at 2200m with a morning low of -25C, with afternoon high of -19C. Light E/NE winds. 

Below: Canadian model animation for projected snowfall midday Friday through midday Sunday. The west slopes of mountains and resorts from Banff NP north to Jasper NP will see the heaviest accumulations.  

Extended Forecast

Arctic high pressure system now looks to plant itself over Alberta through the upcoming week. An overriding shortwave around Wednesday 11/30 could bring in trace accumulations in Kananaskis but that's not too promising at this point. Another reinforcing shot of arctic air arrives towards the end the work week likely extending the deep freeze into next weekend. Daily low temps in the mid to upper -20's C with highs in the low -20's C at mid-mountain locations (2200m). At this point it looks dry through Sunday 12/4.

Below: European model for surface temps (C) for the period Sunday 11/27 thru Thursday 12/1. Watch the blue/green, then purple blob of frigid arctic air encroach out of the Yukon and NWT on Monday and take up residence across the Rockies through Thursday. After that, another reinforcement of frigid air is likely late in the week.   

 


Thanks for tuning in, next update will be on Sunday 11/27.  

Powder Out, 

Bob 



Announcements

Alberta Rockies Ski Resorts & Areas / North & South “Regions” are solely for Geographic References in my forecasts…

OPENING DAYS

 North Region:  ( * denotes SkiBig3 resorts )

*Banff/Sunshine Village  OPEN daily

*Lake Louise Ski Resort  OPEN daily  

*Mt Norquay  OPEN daily  

Marmot Basin        OPEN daily

 South Region:

Castle Mountain   Early Opening Nov 26th and 27th  

Fortress / KPOW Cat Skiing  TBA

Nakiska  OPEN WEEKENDS 

Pass Powderkeg  OPEN WEEKENDS  

 

 

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About Our Forecaster

Bob Ambrose

Forecaster

Ever since his early days as a ski racer on the icy slopes of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, Bob chased his dreams of deep powder west to Tahoe and finally Montana. A self-proclaimed 'weather junkie', his passion for maps, charts, and forecasts always lead him to the best snow in Montana.

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