US and Canada Daily Snow
By Alan Smith, Meteorologist Posted 4 years ago January 4, 2021
Going off in the Pacific Northwest
Summary
The Northwest and Western Canada picked up heavy snowfall over the weekend thanks to a series of powerful storms. The Coast Range, Cascades, and Sierras will be favored from Monday through Wednesday with additional storms on the way. The pattern will start to relax across most of the West toward the end of the week, while the East will transition into a more active pattern heading into next week.
Short Term Forecast
Deep snow totals in the Pacific Northwest
A series of powerful storms over the weekend resulted in big-time snow totals across the Cascades and British Columbia Coast Range, while the British Columbia Interior, Canadian Rockies, and Northern U.S. Rockies also did quite well. The map below shows the deepest totals reported during the 5-day period ending on Sunday morning, January 3rd. Mt. Baker (63 inches), Whistler-Blackcomb (57 inches), and Crystal Mountain (43 inches) recorded the deepest totals during this period.
Forecast for Mon, Jan 4 – Tue, Jan 5
Another big storm will reach the West Coast on Monday with heavy snow falling in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest once again, while also extending farther south with good snow expected for the Sierras including Tahoe. The Northern/Central Rockies will pick up most of their snow on Monday night and Tuesday with the heaviest totals expected in Central/Southern Idaho and Northwest Wyoming.
A storm tracking just off of the East Coast could result in some light snow showers in New England on Monday, while another weak disturbance on Tuesday could produce flurries across parts of the Appalachians.
Forecast for Wed, Jan 6 – Thu, Jan 7
The Pacific Northwest will get hit with another storm on Wednesday, and while there is some uncertainty regarding the track and strength of this storm, Coastal British Columbia and the Washington/Oregon Cascades all have the potential to see additional moderate to heavy snow. The storm will weaken as it moves inland late Wednesday and into Thursday, with good snow for Northern Idaho but lighter snow farther east and south into the Rockies.
Forecast for Fri, Jan 8 – Sat, Jan 9
A weaker storm will bring snow to the Cascades and Rockies on Friday and Saturday, with lighter snow possibly extending as far south as Tahoe. A storm moving across the Southeast could also bring moderate to heavy snow across the Southern Appalachians on Friday before swinging out into the Atlantic on Saturday.
Extended Forecast
Outlook for Sun, Jan 10 – Thu, Jan 14
High pressure will build across the Western U.S. during this period with the main storm track shifting farther into Coastal British Columbia, while the Western U.S. will see fewer/weaker storms. A colder and more active pattern will start to develop in the East with additional storms possible as well.
Thanks so much for reading! Check back for my next post on Wednesday, January 6th.
ALAN SMITH
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