Snow Stake Cams
Forecast Summary
We get a small break in the action as the next 3 storms are churning in the Pacific and Bering Sea. A few Colorado resorts received some bonus backside precipitation, and you can see that on the snow stakes above. Breckenridge was the winner as small band of snow dropped 15, Copper had a foot and Vail had 7. Just a couple of miles (as the crow flies), snow totals were quite different. Keystone, which is sandwiched between Breck and A-Basin, didn’t manage to get 2, while A-Basin had around 6.
Switching gears, looking at the GOES satellite picture above you can see the next 3 systems. The first is off the California coast, second storm is close behind, to the west and the third storm is the area of energy that is moving through the Aleutian Islands (top left). Now let’s put those storms into motion.
Today, the system that dumped 5″ of rain in California is working its way north through the Pacific Northwest. Crystals webcam, this morning, looked like it had 8, or so, which will ski well above mid-mountain, as we will have snow levels rising this morning. For the southern Cascades, snow level will begin at 7,000 and rise to 8,000 by afternoon. Expect rain at and below those levels. Northern Cascades the snow level begins and ends around 1,000 feet less.
Tomorrow, the first storm moves into the Lake Tahoe area after 6 pm. I am expecting modest amounts with this first wave, with the stronger energy arriving Saturday. where we start measuring in feet.
Saturday, the first storm reaches Utah resorts, and like Tahoe, modest amounts during the day and overnight, with the second wave bringing more power, Sunday.
Sunday, Colorado gets in on the mix.
Storm History
The last time this storm came through was very similar to the way it is likely to go down again. Similar amounts are already occurring in the Pacific Northwest, check. Modest amounts in the Sierra and Wasatch expected check. Higher totals expected with the second wave, check. Now let’s sit back and watch it play out. I will post storm history pics and totals tomorrow.
Tahoe
This is the 2-day totals as of Monday morning. Remember the bulk of this will be Saturday and Sunday. I will break down the resort totals this afternoon and will post in the morning.
Utah
2-Day totals thru Monday late, remember the times are Zulu (London).
Colorado
This is the 2-day total for Tuesday around 1 am. This will change but this is what the models are showing as of now.
Long-Range Predictions thru March (from Monday)
We have our long-range forecast out thru March, there have been a lot of emails regarding the long-range, and I thank you for your patience. Every year, it is very challenging to put all of this together.
We are getting better and better at figuring out the cycle, what the various teleconnections are, and how likely they are to affect the pattern. It’s a lot of calculating, analyzing charts, and waiting.
It is also very rewarding once you figure out what is going on. Sometimes you think you have it all figured out, only to realize you were wrong. It takes all of the aforementioned process and much more, that I won’t bore you with, but there it is.
As always you can email me with other resorts and areas you are interested in. We can forecast for the entire northern hemisphere, so if you are interested in the east coast resorts, Europe, or Canada, just let us know and we will give you a detailed forecast.
Forecasted Areas
Pacific Northwest Cascade Mountains
Crystal Mountain, Mount Hood Meadows, Timberline, 49 Degrees North, Bachelor, Mt Baker,
Lake Tahoe Sierra Mountains
Heavenly, Palisades Tahoe, Kirkwood, Dodge Ridge, Donner Ski Ranch
Utah Wasatch Mountains
Alta, Park City, Deer Valley, Brighton, Snowbird, Brian Head
Colorado Rocky Mountains
Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, Vail, Beaver Creek, Winter Park, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Powderhorn, Ski Cooper, Telluride, Crested Butte, Silverton, Wolf Creek, Eldora, Loveland
