5-Day Powder Finder Looking Good for the Northwest

An active pattern is set to take hold across the Pacific Northwest with a moderate storm on Friday followed by a strong storm on Saturday-Sunday. This stronger storm will also impact the Rockies from Sunday night to Tuesday. Cold air arriving with this pattern will ensure low snow levels and good snow quality (low-density powder) by early next week. Check out our 5-Day Powder Finder to see where the deepest snow totals are forecast. 

Forecast for Fri 11/25 – Sat 11/26:

A storm will bring moderate snowfall to the Cascades, Southern BC, and Northern Idaho on Friday with light snow showers for Montana/Wyoming/Southern Idaho on Saturday as the storm weakens. A storm will also linger over New Mexico and Western Texas on Friday with snow for the Southern NM mountains, including Ski Apache.

The next storm will impact Alaska and Northern BC from later Friday into Saturday with heavy snow expected. Across the East, a storm will bring rain to most areas on Friday, but colder air on the backside of the storm will result in a change-over to snow showers on Friday night and Saturday morning. 

Forecast for Sun 11/27 – Mon 11/28:

A strong storm will impact the Pacific Northwest and Southern BC on Sunday with snow spreading into the Rockies on Sunday night and Monday. The East will see another rain event on Sunday as a storm arrives, with rain changing to snow showers across the Great Lakes and New England on Sunday night and Monday. Areas north of the Canadian border should stay all-snow. 

Forecast for Tue 11/29 – Wed 11/30:

The Central Rockies (Utah & Colorado) will see moderate to heavy snow on Tuesday, then another storm will move into the Northwest on Wednesday with heavy snow expected across Washington, Oregon, and possibly Idaho. Tahoe may get in on the action as well.

A storm will bring rain to most of the East on Wednesday, while the Upper Midwest could see a nice round of snow on the colder backside of the storm. 

Outlook for Thu 12/1 – Mon 12/5:

Confidence is lower than usual for this period due to poor model agreement, but a storm is likely to impact parts of the West during the early portion of this period (Thursday/Friday) with additional storms possible thereafter. The Northeast will continue to see an active pattern with additional shots of snow possible, but rain could still sneak into the picture at times. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Monday (11/28).

ALAN SMITH