While it’s not a perfect correlation, the temperature anomaly forecast (which shows the location of above and below average temperatures) can be a reasonably good guide to show where the best powder may fall.

For the five days between January 17-22, the coolest temperatures will be in the western US and especially the southwestern US.

For the next five days, between January 22-27, the coolest temperatures will push inland a bit, covering the central and southern Rockies in the western US.

Based on this temperature forecast, we should expect that the most snow will fall in the central and southern Rockies, and the snow forecast for the next 10 days (through January 27) generally shows this to be the case.

While the snow machine will turn on in the Pacific Northwest through the 20th, temperatures will be warmer than they were in November and December, so the snow level will be higher.

And over on the east coast, the above-average temperatures will generally lead to above-freezing weather in the southeast and mid-Atlantic, with the best chance of snow and ice in far northern New England (mixed with rain at times).

That leaves the central and southern Rockies, which should see three storms (Wednesday-Friday, Friday-Sunday, and Sunday-Wednesday). Snowfall amounts will likely be measured in feet in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and California. There are the areas that you should focus on for powder!

The 10-15 day forecast shows a major shift in the weather pattern. After January 27th, the west begins to warm up and the east begins to cool down.

This likely means that the western US will see fewer or no storms during the final few days of January, while the east coast could get into a more winter-like pattern.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the snow!

JOEL GRATZ

The Chase

Powderchaser Steve is forecasting each week so you know when and where to find the best powder days across the western US. Follow him here: http://opensnow.com/dailysnow/chase