Snow returns to the West with recent snow totals favoring Colorado

Last week's warmth is now a distant memory as a more active pattern has returned to the West with storms favoring both the Southwest and Northwest in recent days. Arizona Snowbowl was the big winner in the most recent storm cycle earlier this week with 21 inches reported, while Loveland (pictured below) received 13 inches.

Additional snow totals over the past five days (ending Thursday) include 15" at Alyeska (AK), 12" at Monarch (CO), 12" at Purgatory (CO), 10" at Snow Summit (CA), 9" at Solitude (UT), and 9" at Alpental (WA), and 8" at Taos (NM).

Forecast for Fri 4/1 – Sat 4/2:

Snow will linger across Colorado and New Mexico early on Friday. The next storm will then bring heavy snow to Northwest BC and Southeast Alaska and light to moderate snow to Southern BC, Alberta, Washington, and the Northern U.S. Rockies on Friday night and Saturday.

A storm will also impact the East with a cooling trend expected along with a mix of snow and rain showers.

Forecast for Sun 4/3 – Mon 4/4:

A strong storm will impact the Northwest during this period with heavy snow developing over British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Northern Idaho on Sunday-Monday with moderate snow spreading into the Northern Rockies during the day on Monday. Check out the Northwest and British Columbia Daily Snows for the inside scoop on this storm cycle. 

A weaker storm will also move across the Southern Rockies with snow developing across Southern Utah, Colorado, and Northern New Mexico.

Another disturbance will move across the Northeast on Sunday with a mix of rain and snow showers, favoring higher elevation areas for light snow accumulations.

Forecast for Tue 4/5 – Wed 4/6:

Snow will continue across the Northwest U.S. and Western Canada into Tuesday, while also spreading into the Central Rockies with Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado likely seeing a good round of snow on Tuesday and Tuesday night.

An unsettled/wet pattern will continue across the East but most areas will see rain with any snow confined to higher elevation peaks. 

Outlook for Thu 4/7 – Mon 4/11:

High pressure will build over the Western U.S. resulting in a couple of days of warmer and drier weather, but a more active pattern will gradually return over this period with Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest favored for storms initially, while the Central Rockies should also start to get in on the action later in this period. The East will remain in the active pattern with cool/wet storms expected, which could result in occasional wet snow for higher elevation areas. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Monday (4/4).

ALAN SMITH