Western Warm-Up and Eastern Cool-Down

The cold airmass that took hold over the West for several days has spread eastward, ushering in the coldest temperatures of the season so far into Eastern North America. Meanwhile, warmer air from the Pacific is working its way into the Western U.S. which will have an effect on snow levels and precipitation type across the Pacific Northwest in particular.

A minor disturbance trailing the cold front will result in light snow showers across the East from Vermont to West Virginia on Wednesday, and also extending southward into West Virginia. The cold air will hang around through Friday, which should allow early-season snowmaking efforts to ramp up at ski resorts.

Forecast for Wed (Nov 1) to Thu (Nov 2):

Light snow showers can be expected across the Mid-Atlantic into Southern/Western New England on Wednesday, as well as in the lake effect regions of Western New York. Cold and dry conditions will prevail behind this disturbance on Thursday.

The first in a series of storms will impact the Northwest, but warm air arriving will result in rain across the Cascades, BC Coast Range, and Inland NW including much of Idaho. Snow will primarily be confined to higher-elevation ski terrain across Interior BC, Western Alberta, and Montana. 

Forecast for Fri (Nov 3) to Sat (Nov 4):

The barrage of warm storms will continue across the Northwest with rain for the Cascades and even across lower elevation ski terrain in the Northern Rockies. Higher elevation terrain from BC to Wyoming will receive moderate to potentially heavy amounts of wet/high-density snow. 

Forecast for Sun (Nov 5) to Mon (Nov 6):

An active pattern will continue across the Northwest, and the latest indications are hinting that cooler air will arrive which could help to lower snow levels compared to prior days across the Cascades and Coast Range. The storm track may also extend a little further south, with Northern Utah and Colorado potentially seeing light snow by Monday, though confidence is low.

Outlook for Tue (Nov 7) to Sat (Nov 11):

The storm track will continue to favor the Northwest and Northern Rockies with additional high-elevation snow. Snow levels remain a question mark as models have been in poor agreement on how much cold air arrives, but it does look better for snow at ski resort elevations next week compared to this week at least.

The Sierra and Central Rockies (Utah, Colorado) look to be right on the southern fringe of the storm track but could see snow at some point.

Across the East, temperatures are expected to be below average, and a more active storm track is also expected with the potential for snow to fall in the Great Lakes and Appalachians at some point next week.

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Friday (November 3).

Alan Smith