Forecast for Western Washington:

Sunday's storm produced 1-2 inches across most of Washington, except for Alpental's upper mountain where 8 inches was recorded. On Monday, heavy snow fell across the North Cascades with Mt. Baker reporting 10" on Tuesday AM, while further south, other ski areas picked up 2-6 inches of new snow.

Here are the latest 48-hour snow totals ending Tuesday AM:

• 14" - Alpental
• 11" - Mt. Baker
• 6" - Stevens Pass
• 4" - Crystal Mountain
• 4" - White Pass

A strong storm will impact the area on Tuesday and snowfall rates are already picking up across the Cascades as of mid-morning ahead of an approaching cold front that will move through around midday. Heavy and widespread snowfall will continue throughout the day on Tuesday with strong west/southwest winds also expected.

Snowfall will become more showery in nature on Tuesday evening with moderate to heavy snow showers continuing throughout the overnight hours on Tuesday night. A Puget Sound convergence zone is also expected to set up, which will favor Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes for the heaviest accumulations after dark.

During the daytime hours on Tuesday, snow levels will range from 2,000-2,500 feet at Mt. Baker, 2,500-3,500 feet at Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes, and 3,000-4,000 feet around Crystal and White Pass. Snow levels will quickly drop after sunset, lowering to around 1,000 feet overnight.

Snow totals from Tuesday AM to Wednesday AM will range from 8-16 inches throughout the Cascades. I would lean toward Alpental, Stevens, and possibly Baker receiving the deepest totals. Mission Ridge will only pick up 1-2 inches from this storm, while on the north side of the Olympic Range, Hurricane Ridge will pick up 5-10 inches.

Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning will offer the deepest conditions on the slopes. Wednesday morning will feature lighter winds compared to Tuesday along with improved snow quality as the backside snow shower activity on Tuesday night will feature lower-denisty snow compared to the daytime hours on Tuesday.

Lingering flurries will remain possible during the day on Wednesday as cloud cover will be slow to relent, but any additional accumulations will be very light. High temperatures on Wednesday will reach the mid 20s at mid-mountain elevations.

On Thursday, we will see a relative lull in the action, except for Mt. Baker and the North Cascades where some light rain/snow showers will be possible as a little bit of moisture arrives. Snow levels will also rise to 4,000-5,000 feet at Baker.

In fact, the big story on Thursday will be the warmer temperatures with highs reaching the mid 30s. This will impact snow conditions from the previous storm, so be sure you get out there Wednesday to catch the new snow while it's fresh.

From Thursday night through Saturday, a slow but weakening storm system will work its way into the Pacific Northwest with several embedded waves resulting in periods of light snow showers. The most widespread snow shower activity is expected late Thursday night and during the day on Friday, before tapering off to flurries on Saturday.

A cold front will arrive as snow shower activity picks up on Thursday night, with snow levels ranging from 2,500-3,500 feet from Thursday night through the daytime hours on Friday. Snow levels will lower slightly on Friday night and Saturday, ranging from 2,000-3,000 feet.

I'm expecting most ski areas to pick up 3-6 inches of snowfall total from Thursday night through Saturday, while Baker could see slightly higher amounts than the rest with around 4-8 inches total. On the east side of the Cascades, Mission Ridge will see little to no snow with downslope westerly winds expected.

Forecast for Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho:

Snow totals over the past 48 hours since Sunday morning have ranged from 1.5 to 3 inches across most of the Inland Northwest. Bluewood likely received heavier amounts but they are closed on Mondays-Tuesdays and have not issued a snow report from the most recent snow events yet. 

A stronger storm will impact the area on Tuesday and Tuesday night. Snow is already beginning at 49 North and Schweitzer on Tuesday morning and will become heavier across these northern areas on Tuesday afternoon, while snow will just begin at Mt. Spokane, Silver, Lookout, and Bluewood on Tuesday afternoon.

A cold front will move across the Inland Northwest on Tuesday evening with heavier and more widespread snowfall expected throughout the region during the overnight hours. Strong winds can also be expected on Tuesday night, out of the west/southwest ahead of the front and west/northwest behind the front.

Snow levels will start out at 2,000-3,000 feet at Schweitzer, 2,500-3,500 feet for 49 North, Mt. Spokane, Silver, and Lookout, and 3,000-4,000 feet at Bluewood with peak snow levels occurring ahead of the cold front in the late afternoon and early evening hours. Snow levels will quickly lower to valley bottoms overnight behind the cold front.

Snow totals from Tuesday AM to Wednesday AM will range from 5-10 inches at Schweitzer, Silver, Lookout Pass, and Bluewood, and 3-6 inches at 49º North and Mt. Spokane.

Wednesday morning will offer the deepest conditions on the slopes as most of the accumulation will happen overnight.

Lingering flurries will remain possible during the day on Wednesday as cloud cover will be slow to relent, but any additional accumulations will be very light. High temperatures on Wednesday will reach the low 20s at mid-mountain elevations.

On Thursday, we will see a break in the action with highs in the upper 20s under partly to mostly cloudy skies. The extent of the cloud cover along with slope aspect and tree cover will play a role in how "fresh" the new snow stays during the warmest part of the day on Thursday afternoon. 

On Friday, a slow but weakening storm system will work its way into the Pacific Northwest but will fall apart as it moves inland, resulting in just a few waves of light snow showers and flurries. This event looks minimal with Schweitzer maybe squeezing out an inch or two of new snow, while areas further south will be lucky to see anything more than a dusting. 

Conditions will start to dry out again on Saturday aside from some isolated lingering flurries. Highs on Friday and Saturday will reach the mid 20s.

Forecast for Oregon:

Snow totals from Sunday AM through Monday AM on the backside of last weekend's storm ranged from 3-10 inches at most areas.

Here are the latest storm total snowfall numbers from Saturday through Monday:

• 17" - Mt. Hood Meadows
• 14" - Timberline
• 10" - Mt. Hood Skibowl
• 10" - Mt. Bachelor
• 5" - Mt. Ashland
• 3.5" - Hoodoo
• 3" - Willamette Pass

A strong storm will impact Northern Oregon on Tuesday and snow is already beginning around the Mt. Hood area as of mid-morning ahead of an approaching cold front that will move through during the afternoon.

Heavy can be expected across Northern Oregon on Tuesday afternoon and evening with lingering snow showers overnight. Central Oregon (Mt. Bachelor) will be on the southern fringe of this storm and will see lighter snowfall compared to areas further north.

Strong winds can be expected across the higher terrain throughout Tuesday and Tuesday night, out of the west/southwest ahead of the cold front and west/northwest behind the front.

During the daytime hours on Tuesday, snow levels will range from 3,000-4,000 feet at the Hood resorts and Hoodoo, 4,000-5,000 feet at Bachelor and Willamette Pass, and 3,500-4,500 feet across the Blue Mountains. Snow levels will quickly drop after sunset, lowering to around 1,500-2,000 feet overnight.

Snow totals from Tuesday AM to Wednesday AM will range from 8-16 inches at Timberline and Hood Meadows, 6-12 inches at Hood Skibowl, 4-8 inches at Hoodoo, 3-6 inches at Bachelor, and 1-3 inches at Willamette pass.

Across Northeast Oregon, Anthony Lakes will pick up 1-3 inches with heavier totals further north in the Blue Mountains closer to the Washington border.

Wednesday morning will offer the deepest conditions on the slopes, and this storm will be right-side-up with lower-density snow expected during the overnight hours prior as temperatures drop. Winds will also be lighter on Wednesday.

Lingering flurries will remain possible during the day on Wednesday as cloud cover will be slow to relent, but any additional accumulations will be very light. High temperatures on Wednesday will reach the mid to upper 20s at mid-mountain elevations in the Cascades and teens in the Blue Mountains.

On Thursday, we will see a relative lull in the action, but temperatures will warm up significantly into the mid 30s to low 40s under partly cloudy skies. This will impact snow conditions from the previous storm, so be sure you get out there Wednesday to catch the new snow while it's fresh.

From Thursday night through Saturday, a slow but weakening storm system will work its way into the Pacific Northwest with several embedded waves resulting in periods of light snow showers. The most widespread snow shower activity is expected late Thursday night and during the day on Friday, before tapering off to flurries on Saturday.

A cold front will arrive as snow shower activity picks up on Thursday night, with snow levels ranging from 3,500-4,000 feet from Thursday night through the daytime hours on Friday. Snow levels will lower slightly on Friday night and Saturday, ranging from 2,500-3,000 feet

I'm expecting most ski areas to pick up 1-4 inches of snowfall total from Thursday night through Saturday, while the Blue Mountains will be lucky to see any snow at all. 

We should see a break in the action on Saturday night and Sunday. The next storm will then drop in from the northwest and will likely impact a large portion of the PNW on Sunday night and Monday (Feb 13). Powder days will be possible on Monday and/or Tuesday depending on exact storm timing and location.

After this storm, we may see somewhat of a lull in the days to follow, then longer range projections are hinting at our next shot of meaningful snow arriving late in the week around Feb 17th-18th. Temperatures are also expected to be colder than average next week.

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Thursday (Feb 9).

ALAN SMITH