Preliminary Snow Totals:

The storm began on Thursday with light to moderate snow developing during the day and heavy snow developing overnight. Snow totals are already deep on Friday AM with plenty more to come. Jackson Hole has received the highest totals so far with 12-14" being reported at the mid to upper mountain plots.

Snow Totals as of 5am Friday:

• 14" - Jackson Hole Rendezvous Bowl
• 13" - Surprise Lake (GTNP)
• 12" - Jackson Hole Raymer Plot
• 12" - Jackson Hole Mid-Mountain
• 9" - Grand Targhee (Chief Joseph Bowl)
• 7" - Snow King
• 6" - Jackson Hole Base
• 3" - Togwotee Pass

Forecast for Friday to Saturday:

Heavy snow will continue throughout the day on Friday and into Friday evening before snowfall rates lighten up later in the night. Friday is going to be a pretty amazing powder day with deep totals from the night before followed by more deep totals adding up throughout the day.

On Saturday, steady light to moderate snow will continue throughout the day and into Saturday night before eventually tapering off by Sunday morning. At this point, I'm expecting minimal snowfall beyond Sunday morning's report.

Additional snow totals for this storm will range from 1-2 feet (12-24 inches) in the Tetons above 8,000 feet with higher totals on Friday-Friday night compared to Saturday-Saturday night. For a daily breakdown, I would probably go 9-17 inches on Friday-Friday night and 3-7 inches on Saturday. 

Additional snow totals in the valleys will range from 5-10 inches in Teton Valley and 3-8 inches in the Jackson Hole Valley.

Winds will be brisk on Friday above 9,000 feet out of the west/northwest at 20-25 mph with gusts to 35-45 mph. On Saturday, winds will decrease a bit out of the west/northwest at 10-20 mph with gusts to 25-35 mph.

Saturday will be deep as well and the morning hours will be the prime time to catch the goods with lighter refills also expected through the afternoon.

Temperatures at 9,000 feet will be in the mid-teens on Friday before lowering into the upper single digits on Saturday. Valley temperatures will remain in the mid/upper 20s on Friday before dipping into the upper teens on Friday night and peaking in the low 20s on Saturday.

The heavy snowfall rates and gusty winds will make for slow travel conditions throughout Friday and Friday night so use extra caution if you're out on the roads. Saturday will be slightly improved versus Friday, but slow travel conditions can still be expected.

Forecast for Sunday:

Lingering snow showers will taper off on Sunday morning as the storm digs further south of our area. As this happens, arctic air will begin to spill into our area, resulting in a cold day with highs only in the mid-single digits at 9,000 feet and teens in the valley. Winds will be much lighter, however.

It may be slim pickings on Sunday as far as catching widespread deep powder but there could still be some leftovers from Saturday night, and hike-only terrain should still be skiing well too. 

Enjoy the weekend snow because it may be all we get for a while. Monday (Jan 30) through Friday (Feb 3) is looking dry and cold with little to no snow expected, save for a slight chance of a weak disturbance that could bring flurries at some point.

Temperatures will start out cold at all elevations early in the week, but a temperature inversion will strengthen as the week progresses with highs likely reaching the 20s at mid to upper elevations by late in the week while colder air will stay trapped in the valleys.

A weak storm is possible over the weekend of February 4th-5th, but it has trended weaker overall and is looking marginal at this point with only light snow expected at best. After that, our next chance of snow looks to be around February 6th-7th.

From February 8th on, I have little confidence in how things may play out as long-range models have been in poor agreement and struggled with run-to-run consistency. The latest GFS and Canadian Model runs are hinting at a more active pattern setting up, while the European Model is keeping most of the energy too far off the West Coast, and thus painting a drier scenario.

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Saturday (Jan 28).

ALAN SMITH