Waiting Game for the West:

Storms early this week favored the mid to high elevations of the Sierra Nevada Range, with a trend toward weakening storms and light/spotty snowfall from the Sierra to the Rockies. Over the weekend, a series of atmospheric rivers will bring heavy rain and high snow levels to the Northwest. Further south in the Sierra and the Central/Southern Rockies, temperatures will also be warm, but sunshine will be more abundant with better snow conditions compared to areas up north.

The long-range pattern also looks more promising for the Sierra as well as the Southwest/Four Corners region.

Forecast for Fri (Jan 26) to Sat (Jan 27):

Light snow will linger across the Southern Rockies into early Friday before drying out by late Friday and into Saturday. Weak storms will continue to impact the Northwest but snow levels will be on the rise as warmer air works its way into the region. Heavy snow is expected further north across Southeast Alaska.

A storm will also impact the East with rain for the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England, while Northern New England will see a mix of rain, freezing rain, and snow.

Forecast for Sun (Jan 28) to Mon (Jan 29):

Snow levels will rise substantially across the Northwest and Western Canada as subtropical moisture arrives, resulting in a changeover from snow to rain at ski resorts throughout the region, even in Interior British Columbia. Snow will be confined only to the highest peaks above ski resort summit elevations. The coastal ranges of Alaska will also see heavy snow with lower snow levels.

A storm involving colder air will move into the East during this period with rain changing to snow. The heaviest and most widespread snow is expected across Southern New England and the Northern Mid-Atlantic, while higher elevations from WV to NC should pick up some accumulations as well. 

For more info, check out the New England Daily Snow and the Mid-Atlantic Daily Snow.

Forecast for Tue (Jan 30) to Wed (Jan 31):

Rain will continue across the Northwest during this period with substantial rain totals adding up across the coastal ranges over time. By Wednesday, snow levels should start to drop in some areas while rain and snow will also reach Northern California. 

In the East, another storm is expected to arrive from the northwest with snow possible across portions of New England and the Mid-Atlantic, as well as the Great Lakes. 

Outlook for Thu (Feb 1) to Mon (Feb 5):

High pressure will start to break down out West with colder air working its way in from west to east. The storm track is likely to set up further south, favoring California and the Southwest with the most consistent snowfall. A warmer and drier pattern is expected for the East with limited snow potential. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Monday (Jan 29).

Alan Smith 

Compare Favorites: Current Conditions & 10-Day Forecasts

Finding the location that has the best conditions can feel overwhelming.

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