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Snowy Weekend, but snow levels?

Unsettled Monday-Wednesday – snow level rises

Cooler, decreasing snow – late week

NW Open Snow Inside Story

Here we go…

Another strong weather system is providing more new snow for the NW mountains this weekend. Snow will be falling most of the day Saturday and part of Sunday. Expect a snow level of 3000-4500ft snow level with 5-15” of new in 36 hours. Rain on snow lower slopes.The best quality and quantity of snow will be on the upper slopes and north toward Baker and Whistler. The other ski areas will be good, but confidence of quality is higher to the north. I favor Sunday with a bit of cooling expected and the storminess eases up a bit.

Two more storms are in the queue, as the storm track is aimed at the NW. The storms are traversing the Pacific, propelled by 200 mph jet streaks. Jet streaks are high velocity jet stream segments, associated with storms. It takes storms about 3-5 days to get here from China.

The two storms of later Sunday to Wednesday have higher snow levels 4000-7000ft. Expect a ton of snow for the upper slopes and Baker/Whistler (3-12” or more). Again the rest will be a bit more challenged by the snow levels. Heavy rain lower slopes is possible with this mild/moist atmospheric river. on Tuesday. 

Later Wednesday through next Friday – excellent skiing, snow eases up. That is the target, best skiing. The low snow levels of 2000ft, will prevail, as the storm track drifts south. Bachelor may be in the cross hairs later next week for a good dump, while everybody north is cool with fewer snow showers. Another big storm for next week (Sat) will get everybody. After that, the storm track consolidates southward ( Calif) , for a more EL Nino like circulation pattern and we may go drier, but cool.

I am sidestepping holiday obligations, for the moment, and going skiing for days! Ya gotta be flexible to get the goods. Fun is the priority.

Larry Schick

Meteorologist

Open Snow NW Territory