Monster snow totals in California, favorable pattern for the rest of the West 

The Sierra Nevada Range in California has been slammed by a well-advertised storm this week and it has not disappointed. As of Thursday morning, Mammoth Mountain had received 76 inches of snow in about 36 hours, with additional deep totals including 61 inches at Dodge Ridge and 51 inches at Mt. Rose, Nevada. These are very preliminary totals – heavy snow has continued to fall since Thursday morning, and additional deep totals will be coming in on Friday morning's reports.

Check out this powder shot from Sierra-at-Tahoe from Wednesday as the storm was getting underway.

While Tahoe and California have been the big story this week, this multi-day storm has also produced less-extreme but still deep totals across portions of the Northern Rockies. As of Thursday morning, Sun Valley had picked up 25 inches of snow in 24 hours and Jackson Hole had picked up 12 inches with heavy snow continuing to fall at both areas after the morning reports. 

Areas of the West that largely missed out on this storm will have plenty of additional opportunities in the days to come...

Forecast for Fri, Jan 29 – Sat, Jan 30

Lingering snow will taper off in the Sierras on Friday morning as the storm moves inland, bringing a good round of snow to most areas in the Rockies through Saturday. Snow will also develop across the BC Coast Range and Cascade Range on Saturday as a slow-moving storm approaches. The Northeast will see some light snow showers on Friday, before drying out on Saturday.

Forecast for Sun, Jan 31 – Mon, Feb 1

British Columbia and Washington will pick up heavy snow (along with low snow levels) on Sunday and Monday as a slow-moving storm impacts the Northwest, with good snow extending south into Oregon/Northern California and east into Alberta as well. A strong storm will also impact the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday and Monday with heavy snow expected, though rain and/or ice could mix in for a period of time in some areas. 

Forecast for Tue, Feb 2 – Wed, Feb 3

A storm will move from northwest to southeast across the West and Tuesday and Wednesday bringing new snow to nearly all ranges. Tahoe looks to be in line for another big dump, while the Rockies could see good totals through Wednesday as well. The storm system impacting the Mid-Atlantic in previous days is expected to slowly move up the Northeast Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday with snow developing across portions of New England.

Outlook for Thu, Feb 4 – Mon, Feb 8

The Central and Southern Rockies should pick up additional snow on Wednesday night and Thursday before the storm exits. An active northwest flow pattern is then expected to set up in the West with additional storms possible, favoring the Northwest and Northern/Central Rockies. The East will turn much warmer and less favored for snow during this period. 

Thanks so much for reading! Check back for my next post on Monday, February 1st.

ALAN SMITH

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