Snow Totals:

Snowfall from the Monday-Tuesday storm favored Oregon with moderate to heavy snow, while Southern Washington received light to moderate snow. 

Here are the latest 2-day snow totals as of Wednesday AM:

• 20" - Mt. Bachelor
• 13" - Mt. Hood Meadows
• 12" - Willamette Pass
• 8" - Hoodoo
• 5" - Anthony Lakes
• 4" - Timberline
• 4" - Mt. Hood Skibowl
• 4" - Crystal Mountain
• 4" - White Pass

Forecast for Wednesday to Thursday:

A break in the pattern is expected with a mix of sun and clouds along with chilly temperatures for late March. Highs will only reach the 20s at Oregon ski resorts, while Washington and Northern Idaho will be a bit warmer with highs in the 30s.

Lingering moisture and instability will still result in scattered snow showers and flurries both days, especially during the afternoon hours. Snow shower activity will favor Oregon and SE Washington on Wednesday, while all areas could see snow showers on Thursday.

Snow amounts each day will generally be light and spotty, ranging from nothing to a few inches. Snow levels will also be near to just below base areas of most resorts.

Forecast for Friday to Sunday:

A large trough of low pressure originating in the Gulf of Alaska will deepen across the Pacific Northwest during this period but will move fairly slowly, resulting in a long-duration snow event across the region. Several embedded waves will move through during this period, but overall, we are looking at 3 days of snow for most areas.

Western Washington:

Light snow will begin on Friday morning as the storm approaches, followed by heavier and more widespread snow on Friday afternoon and Friday night. A cold front will also move through on Friday night.

Periods of snow showers (moderate to heavy intensity) can then be expected on Saturday, Saturday night, and Sunday, before gradually tapering off on Sunday night.

Snow levels will range from 2,500-3,500 feet during the day on Friday, then will range from 500-2,000 feet for the rest of the event from Friday night through Sunday. In other words, this will be a cold storm by late March/early April standards with top-to-bottom snow at ski areas.

Winds aloft will be out of the southwest on Friday, before turning more west/southwest on Saturday and Sunday. Wind speeds will be moderate on Friday, strong on Saturday, and light to moderate on Sunday.

For now, I'm expecting 3-day snow totals to range from 12-30 inches across most of the Cascades and Olympics, while the eastern slopes of the Cascades will be shadowed with only 1-4 inches at Mission Ridge. Keep in mind, we are still a few days out, so stay tuned for an updated snow forecast on Friday.

Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho:

Light snow showers will begin during the day on Friday as the leading edge of the storm arrives, followed by heavier and more widespread snow on Friday night and Saturday morning as a cold front moves through. 

Off-and-on snow showers can then be expected from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon through Sunday night.

Snow levels will range from 3,000-4,000 feet during the day on Friday, then will range from valley bottoms to 3,000 feet for the rest of the event from Friday night through Sunday. In other words, this will be a cold storm by late March/early April standards with top-to-bottom snow at ski areas.

Winds aloft will be out of the southwest on Friday, before turning more west/southwest on Saturday and Sunday. Wind speeds will be moderate on Friday, strong on Saturday, and light to moderate on Sunday.

For now, I'm expecting 3-day snow totals to range from 8-16 inches at ski resorts throughout the Inland Northwest with Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning offering the deepest conditions on the slopes. Keep in mind, we are still a few days out, so stay tuned for an updated snow forecast on Friday.

Oregon:

Light to moderate snow will begin during the day on Friday as the storm approaches, followed by heavier and more widespread snow on Friday night and Saturday morning as a cold front moves through.

Periods of snow showers (moderate to heavy intensity) can then be expected from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, before gradually tapering off on Sunday night.

Snow levels will range from 3,000-4,500 feet during the day on Friday, then will range from 1,000-3,000 feet for the rest of the event from Friday night through Sunday. In other words, this will be a cold storm by late March/early April standards with top-to-bottom snow at ski areas.

Winds aloft will be out of the southwest on Friday, before turning more west/southwest on Saturday and Sunday. Wind speeds will be moderate to occasionally strong during most of this event with the strongest gusts expected on Friday night. 

For now, I'm expecting 3-day snow totals to range from 14-36 inches across the Cascades from Hood to Willamette Pass, 6-12 inches at Mt. Ashland, and 8-16 inches at Anthony Lakes and the Blue Mountains. Keep in mind, we are still a few days out, so stay tuned for an updated snow forecast on Friday.

The fun will continue into early next week as another comparatively weaker storm is projected to move through on Monday-Tuesday (April 3rd-4th). Confidence is low in the storm track and potential snow amounts at this time, but snow levels should remain low (below base areas).

An unsettled pattern will then continue from April 5th-12th with new snow possible about every 1-3 days, though the trend will be toward lighter and more showery activity. Temperatures will start out well-below average early in this period, but should gradually trend warmer (approaching more seasonal levels) as we head into mid-April.

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Friday (March 31).

ALAN SMITH

I am transitioning over to "spring hours" for the rest of the season. I will be posting forecasts on Mondays-Wednesdays-Fridays moving forward with my final post of the season on Monday, April 17th.

Projected Ski Resort Closing Dates:

April 2nd:

Bluewood

April 3rd:

Anthony Lakes

April 9th:

Mt. Hood Skibowl

49º North

Mt. Spokane

Schweitzer

April 16th:

Hoodoo

Lookout Pass

April 23rd:

Mt. Baker

Mt. Ashland

Willamette Pass

Silver Mountain

April 30th:

Mission Ridge

Stevens Pass

Summit at Snoqualmie

Alpental

White Pass

May 6th:

Mt. Hood Meadows

May 28th:

Mt. Bachelor

June 11th:

Crystal Mountain