Who Has Fresh Snow?

Many ski regions across North America are in the midst of a December dry spell, but not everyone has missed out on storms lately. Alaska has been getting slammed, and the Southwest U.S. (Arizona, New Mexico, Southwest Colorado) also just received a nice shot of snow this weekend.

Some areas of Canada have also received consistent snowfall in the past week – most notably Revelstoke, who received a total of 45 cm (18") over 7 days from December 17-23 with new snow falling each day. Santa was out enjoying the fresh snow and catching some air during this cycle!

Forecast for Mon (Dec 25) to Tue (Dec 26):

A series of storms will impact the Northwest with deep snow totals adding up from Alaska to Whistler. The Cascades will see snow initially, but some areas will see a change-over to rain as warmer air arrives, and even Whistler will see rising snow levels by Tuesday. A warm storm will also bring rain to the Midwest and the East.

Forecast for Wed (Dec 27) to Thu (Dec 28):

A storm will reach the West Coast during this period with light to moderate snow expected for the Sierra, Cascades, and BC Coast Range. Light snow showers may reach portions of the Interior West, but confidence is low. Alaska will continue to be favored for heavier snowfall.

A storm in the East will work its way into New England with rain expected, while on the colder backside of the storm, snow will fall across portions of the Great Lakes region.

Forecast for Fri (Dec 29) to Sat (Dec 30):

Another storm is possible for the West Coast during this period, but confidence is low in terms of the storm track and strength. A weak storm may also slide into Colorado from the northwest, but confidence is low here as well.

Across the East, colder air will arrive with the potential for snow showers across the Great Lakes and the Appalachians.

Outlook for Sun (Dec 31) to Thu (Jan 4):

Heading into the New Year, we may see some storms track across Southern California into the Southwest U.S., but models have been flip-flopping back and forth on this scenario. Alaska continues to look like a good bet for storms, but warmer air could mean rising snow levels across the coastal ranges. 

A colder pattern is expected to take hold across the East with the potential for frequent disturbances arriving from the northwest. This pattern may be most favorable for the Mid-Atlantic where the western side of the Appalachians could see multiple rounds of snow showers.

Happy Holidays from the OpenSnow team! Next update on Wednesday (Dec 27).

Alan Smith 

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