Major storm cycle ahead for Tahoe, other parts of the West

The Sierra Nevada Range in California is going to get slammed this week with several storms lined up in a row, featuring a combination of significant Pacific moisture and cold temperatures that will support significant snowfall. The Southern California Mountains, Northern Arizona, and the San Juan Range in Colorado will also pick up deep snow this week with Southern Idaho and Northwest Wyoming receiving heavy snow as well.

The image below the range of snowfall projections from 52 models for Kirkwood, California through Sunday morning, January 31st. Most models are projecting anywhere from 50-125 inches of snow with an average of around 90 inches. Be sure to check out the Tahoe Daily Snow to stay up to date as this pattern evolves.

Forecast for Mon, Jan 25 – Tue, Jan 26

Snow will linger across California and Southwest Colorado early on Monday, while Arizona and Southern Utah receive their heaviest snow during the daytime hours Monday and into Monday night. Light snow will continue across the Cascades and BC Coast Range on Monday as well.

A storm will impact the East on Monday night and Tuesday with all-snow expected approximately north of the New York/Pennsylvania border while areas south of this border will experience mixed precipitation.

Forecast for Wed, Jan 27 – Thu, Jan 28

A big storm will reach the West Coast on Wednesday with heavy snow (measured in feet) expected across the Sierras on Wednesday and Thursday with lighter totals farther north in the Cascades and BC Interior. Moderate to heavy snow is also expected across Southern/Central Idaho and Northwest Wyoming during this time.

In the East, snow from the previous day's storm will taper off across New York/Southern New England early on Wednesday while another storm will bring a round of light to moderate snow to the Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday night and Thursday. 

Forecast for Fri, Jan 29 – Sat, Jan 30

The storm system stalled out off of the California Coast during prior days will swing across the West on Friday with more snow for the Sierras and Southern California while most areas in the Rockies will pick up a good round of snow as well from Friday through Saturday. Another storm will reach the West Coast on Saturday with heavy snow possible across the Sierras, Cascades, and BC Coast Range. In the East, a weak disturbance could bring some light snow showers to the Northeast on Friday. 

Outlook for Sun, Jan 31 – Thu, Feb 4

The pattern continues to look good throughout the West during this period with additional storms expected, especially early on. Toward the end of the period, the main storm track will likely shift north a bit into Washington and British Columbia. The East could also see a storm arrive around February 1st.

Thanks so much for reading! Check back for my next post on Wednesday, January 27th.

ALAN SMITH

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