Fresh cord will be the call on Thursday with sunny skies and great conditions for cruising groomers (photo courtesy Brundage Mountain). 

A High Pressure system will move to the east by Friday, and a Low trough will advance into the Great Basin from the Pacific Coast on Friday. Two storm systems will push through by Sunday. 

The first system approaching on Friday/Friday night appears to have less of a powder punch. Snow levels look good for the most part. Max snow level at Lookout and Silver will be 4,000-4,500 feet on Friday. There's 1-3" forecast with that system at all three Idaho Panhandle resorts, then there will be a break during the day on Saturday with flurries, and another 1-3" to fall on Sunday. 


The GFS snow forecast model is slightly more generous with snow amounts around Bogus Basin and Tamarack. None of the models are showing more than 5-6" cumulative through Monday with the two storms coming through in the next five days.

In Central and Southern Idaho, snow levels will remain below base areas throughout the two storm cycles. There's a chance of light snow with the Friday PM storm, 1-3", and then the main dose is forecast to fall during the day on Sunday with 3-5" forecast at Bogus Basin, Tamarack and Brundage. Soldier Mountain and Sun Valley are predicted to get more like 1-3" on Sunday, and a dusting Friday night. 

Pomerelle, Magic, Pebble and Kelly are expected to get 1-3" with the storm system on Sunday, so they will be missing the brunt of the moisture as it passes through Idaho.  

On Monday, the weather remains unstable moving into next week, especially in N. Idaho, with a 20-30 percent chance of snow each day through Wednesday. Several inches are possible each day during that time. With no perceptible break from the first storm event on Friday night, the light amounts of snow forecast each day could pile up from a cumulative perspective through Wed-Thurs of next week. 

Looking out to mid-February, the NOAA Climate Prediction Center is forecasting normal to near-normal precipitation through that period. "Near-normal" is better than below normal! Seasonally winter-like temperatures also are forecast through mid-Feb. to retain our snowpack.  

Thanks for reading! My next forecast will be on Saturday, Feb. 4.

- Steve Stuebner, Idaho Daily Snow 

Lookout Pass is open daily. All lifts in operation. 49" base at the bottom, 60" on top. 

Schweitzer Mountain is open 7 days a week. 10 of 10 lifts in operation, 92 trails and 2 parks. 52"-82" base.   

Silver Mountain is open 7 days a week. Chairs 1, 2, 3, 5 and Prospector are in operation. 76 trails open. 61" base at the lodge, 70" at the summit.     

Sun Valley is operating daily. 102 trails open, 48 groomed, 11 lifts operating. 71" base at the bottom, 92" on top. Dollar Mountain is operating daily. 

Wood River xc trails are open! See more details here.  

Sawtooth Avalanche Center has the latest backcountry conditions for the greater Sun Valley and Sawtooth areas.  

Bogus Basin is operating 7 days a week. The whole mountain is open. 9 of 10 lifts operating; 91 of 93 runs are open. Base depth 57." Night skiing is open for the season. Nordic trails are open.    

Brundage Mountain is operating 7 days a week. They are 100% open (terrain-wise). 6 of 6 lifts operating. Snow base is 56" at the bottom and 86" at the summit. 

Tamarack Resort is open 7 days a week. All lifts running. 64-67" base. 46 runs are open and two parks. Nordic trails are open and groomed for xc skiing. On weekends, Tamarack is offering free s'mores around a warming fire at the base area.   

Little Ski Hill is open. Bear Basin xc ski area is fully groomed and open for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. See McCall Nordic for conditions at all the xc ski areas in Valley County. 

Check with the Payette Avalanche Center on the latest conditions.   

Pomerelle is operating daily. Night skiing begins on Dec. 27. 3 lifts in operation. 67" base. 31 trails open, 31 groomed and one park. 

Soldier Mountain is operating Thursday-Sunday. 60" base. Two lifts in operation plus magic carpet.   

Kelly Canyon is operating Wednesday-Sunday. Check hours of operation on the web site. 

Magic Mountain is open Thursday-Sunday.     

Pebble Creek is operating 7 days a week. 50"-82" base.