Snow makes a welcome return to the West this week

Conditions have improved across much of the West this week with ski resorts in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico scoring powder days, while Tahoe also picked up some decent snow. Check out the scene from Powderhorn in Western Colorado on Thursday. 

Forecast for Fri 2/18 – Sat 2/19:

Heavy snow will develop over Alaska and Northwest BC on Friday and Friday night, then moderate to heavy snow will extend into Southern BC as well as the Washington Cascades during the day on Saturday.

Rain and freezing rain/sleet will change over to snow across the Northeast on the backside of a storm on Friday. A storm moving across the Upper Midwest will bring a round of snow to the Great Lakes region on Friday and New York/New England on Saturday.

Forecast for Sun 2/20 – Mon 2/21:

Moderate to heavy snow will fall across the Pacific Northwest, Northern U.S. Rockies, and Canadian Rockies on Sunday before extending southward into Utah and Northwest Colorado during the day on Monday. A storm will also impact the Upper Midwest on Monday.

Forecast for Tue 2/22 – Wed 2/23:

The Western storm will continue to progress southward on Tuesday and Wednesday with California picking up moderate snowfall, while Western Colorado, Southern Utah, Arizona, and eventually Northern New Mexico will be favored for heavy snow. The Northern Rockies will see some light snow showers and frigid temps as an arctic airmass settles into place.

A strong storm will continue to impact the Upper Midwest on Tuesday as well before extending into Southeast Canada on Wednesday with ice and rain likely near and south of the U.S. border in the Northeast.

Outlook for Thu 2/24 – Mon 2/28:

The East will be the most favored region heading into the last few days of February with stronger and colder storms possible. The pattern will generally turn drier out West, though the Northwest could see a couple of weak to moderate storms. Temperatures will start out very cold across the West early in this period before gradually moderating. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Monday (2/21).

ALAN SMITH