Idaho Daily Snow

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

By Steve Stuebner, Forecaster Posted 1 year ago December 2, 2022

Major storm delivers 1-3 feet of new snow!

Summary

Heavy snow Tuesday-Thursday from Schweitzer to Sun Valley added 1-3 feet of new snow to base levels, creating great fresh powder conditions for Friday as a number of ski areas reopen for the weekend. High clouds and cold temps will prevail on Friday on the heels of the storm, and then skies clear Saturday. A new storm system comes Sunday with 3-7" of new expected in Central and SW Idaho. Enjoy!

Short Term Forecast


Rider flies through a foot of fresh snow on Bald Mountain in Sun Valley. They've gotten 18" of new in the last 72 hours. (photo courtesy Sun Valley)

The storms squarely hit N. Idaho ski areas this week, where 3 feet of snow has fallen at Schweitzer and 1.5-2.5 feet at Silver and Lookout. Schweitzer will be opening the Lakeview Triple on Friday and Great Escape on Saturday with all of the new snow. They are operating 7 days a week. Silver and Lookout reopen on Friday with lots of fresh snow! Chilly temps around 10-14 degrees F are forecast today. Skies will clear on Saturday with warmer temps in the 20s at Lookout and Silver. Schweitzer will remain cold with more Arctic air influencing from Canada, keeping high temps in the teens during the day and single digits at night. 


Brundage snow marker on Thursday hit over 15" at the base area. Brundage opens for full operations today (12/2) with the Bluebird and Centennial lifts running and top-to-bottom skiing. (Courtesy Brundage Mountain)

With a Southwest flow to the storms in Central and Southwest Idaho, new snow amounts piled up big-time at Brundage, Tamarack, Bogus, Soldier and Sun Valley this week. 

Bogus got 5" in the last 24 hours, 12" in the last 48 hours and 21" in the last week. They are operating 7 days a week. Tamarack got 9" in the last 24 hours and 13" in the last 48 hours. They open on Dec. 9.

Brundage has received 10" in the last 24 hours, 24" in the last 48 hours and 35" this week. Sun Valley received 5.5" in the last 24 hours, and 18" in the last 72 hours. Soldier has gotten 8" in the last 24 hours and 22" in the last 5 days. 

 
Tamarack snow stake at mid-mountain on Thursday morning. Woot woot! (Courtesy Tamarack Resort). 

A low pressure trough will move into Idaho on Saturday night/Sunday, bringing a new round of 3-7" of new snow to Bogus, Brundage, Tamarack, Soldier and Sun Valley. Magic and Pomerelle may get some freshies out of that storm system.

Unfortunately, the Tuesday-Thursday storm system missed the ski areas south of the Snake River. However, Pomerelle has received 10" since they closed last Sunday, so when they reopen today, there will be fresh snow to ski/ride! 

 

 

  

Extended Forecast

After the Sunday storm, skies will clear in Central and Southern Idaho through Thursday of next week. Another system is forecast to hit that region by next Friday. Central and Southwest Idaho ski areas could see another 10" of new snow with a new storm system moving through the state. The same storm system is forecast to hit Eastern and SE Idaho as well, bringing up to 9" of freshies to Kelly Canyon and 7" to Pebble Creek.  

In N. Idaho, a new storm system approaches on Tuesday/Wednesday, bringing several inches per day, and conditions remain unsettled and build to a crescendo next weekend, with another foot of new snow forecast at this point. 

All of these storm systems will allow Idaho's ski areas to open up more lifts and terrain. Temperatures are remaining cold for good snow-retention and snow-quality. It's looking like it's going to be a really fun month of skiing in December, starting off the month with a powder bang! 

Thanks for reading! My next forecast will be on Sunday, 12/4. 

Steve Stuebner, Idaho Daily Snow  

Announcements

Lookout Pass reopens Friday, Dec. 2. Three lifts will be in operation. 25 trails open, 17 groomed. 16" base at the bottom, 26" on top. 

Schweitzer Mountain is open 7 days a week. 4 lifts in operation, 16 trails and 1 park. 38-44" base. Lakeview Triple opens Friday, Dec. 2, and the Great Escape quad opens Saturday, Dec. 3.   

Silver Mountain is operating on Friday-Sunday for now. Three lifts in operation.    

Sun Valley is operating daily. 48 trails open, 24 groomed, 5 lifts operating on the River Run side of the mountain. Wood River xc trails are open! See more details here

Bogus Basin reopened on Thursday, Dec. 1, for daily operations for the winter of 2022-23. Front side will be open for skiing/riding this weekend so far. Night skiing begins on Dec. 9. Nordic trails reopen on Thursday, Dec. 1 for daily operations.   

Brundage Mountain reopens Friday, Dec. 2. Bluebird quad and Centennial lifts will be operating plus Easy Street beginner chair.  

Tamarack Resort plans to open Dec. 9. 

Little Ski Hill plans to open Dec. 17. Bear Basin xc ski area is half-groomed and open for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. See McCall Nordic for conditions at all the xc ski areas in Valley County. 

Payette Avalanche Center begins avalanche forecasts on Dec. 9. 

Pomerelle will be closed until Friday, Dec. 2, when it will reopen for weekend operations. Night skiing begins on Dec. 27. 

Soldier Mountain opens Saturday, Dec. 3, and will operate through Sunday, Dec. 4 this weekend and then will operate Thursday-Sunday leading up to the Christmas holiday.  

Magic Mountain plans to open on Dec. 10. 

Pebble Creek plans to open Dec. 16. 

About Our Forecaster

Steve Stuebner

Forecaster

Steve Stuebner has a big appetite for outdoor fun. When he's not providing snow forecasts for Idaho, Steve works on web videos, press releases, blogs, and social media, with a specialization in natural resources, outdoor travel, and tourism.

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