Base-building snow for the Northwest

The Northwest was hit with a strong and cold storm cycle this past weekend with heavy snow and snow levels down to base area elevations across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Check out the Gnorm the Powder Gnome snow stake at Revelstoke, which was buried as of early Sunday afternoon.

Forecast for Mon 11/8 – Tue 11/9

A weak disturbance will bring some light snow to Northern Utah and Southwest Wyoming during the day on Monday. The next storm will impact the West Coast on Monday night and Tuesday with the storm's energy splitting a bit, resulting in the heaviest snow for the Sierra, Northern Cascades, and BC Coast Range. Snow will pick up across the Northern Rockies during the day on Tuesday as the storm moves inland.

Forecast for Wed 11/10 – Thu 11/11

Snow will pick up over the Northern Rockies, Utah, and Colorado on Tuesday night and Wednesday. Snow showers could linger through Thursday over Colorado as well. The Northwest will see a lull on Wednesday, then a warmer storm will reach Oregon & Washington on Thursday with snow changing over to rain.

The Upper Midwest will also see a storm during this period with rain expected to change over to snow on Thursday.

Forecast for Fri 11/12 – Sat 11/13

Heavy rain and heavy amounts of high elevation snow can be expected across British Columbia as back-to-back storms hit on Friday and Saturday. Lighter snow is also possible across the Northern Rockies and perhaps Colorado on Saturday on the southern fringe of the storm track. An active pattern will continue across the Upper Midwest on both Friday and Saturday with additional snow showers possible.

Outlook for Sun 11/14 – Thu 11/18

The storm track will favor British Columbia during this period with storms occasionally extending southward into the Northern U.S. Rockies. The Cascades will continue to see periods of precipitation with both rain and snow possible at times. A colder-than-average pattern will take hold across the East during this period with snow possible across New England and the Central Appalachians at times. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Wednesday (11/10).

ALAN SMITH