Posted April 14, 6:19 am MT 5:19 am PT
Snow Stake Cams
MSLP Surface Chart thru Apr 21
All Snow
Forecast Discussion
Most resorts in Utah received an inch or less with Snowbasin reporting 2 and Cherry Peak receiving 5. Alta had just .5 at the snow stake and just over an inch up top. The good news is the cold air and a lot of avalanche mitigation, has opened up the road to Alta and Snowbird this morning. Both resorts have been closed due to the road status.
This system will work its way through Colorado today through tomorrow morning before exiting around lunch time. Looking at the GFS long range forecast above, it is showing the next system arriving to the Pacific Northwest Sunday. This is a big Low pressure system that will slide down the coast and then get caught up in the flow. There will likely be 3 waves as the outer bands are ejected. The first wave looks to stay north, but the second and third waves will move in a more southeast direction.
If you’re following along on the Long-Range Forecast, chart, the second wave is storm 85 for the Sierra. That storm moves into Utah becoming storm 86 and finally 87 in Colorado.
Colorado Forecast
Snow has just begun to fall for Colorado resorts. This will be a nice refresh for all mountains with up to a foot of snow possible for Winter Park. Most mountains will receive between 4-6 inches. Below is the 2 day totals from the GFS, followed by the resort specific snow forecast.
Today
Temperatures will start out cold and could possibly be a problem in the afternoon. Rain is definitely not ruled out for lower elevations, as base temperatures will be in the upper 30’s. Winds will be light to moderate, between 10-15 mph with gusts near 25.
Tonight
Snow continues with the most precipitation along the divide.
Saturday
Lingering snow showers expected and cold morning temperatures. High temps will be a mixed bag, just reaching the mid 20’s along the divide, but most other resorts will reach the upper 30’s, with the southern resorts in the low 40’s, so get out early to have the best snow. Next system Tuesday or Tuesday night.
Alta 23 inches to 900
3 storms before closing date, Storms 83, 86 and 89
Storm 83 and 86 Storm 83 and 86 are connected and are a two-wave storm. They are a part of a huge low-pressure system that will develop in the Gulf of Alaska in the coming days. If both waves of this storm come through, we should get to within single digits for the last storm. All bets are off, this time of year due to the changing jet stream, so lets hope it hits.
Storm 89
I have this storm hitting on Monday, but it will most likely hit on Alta’s last day. I use averaging when making the long-range forecast, based on the storm’s history. This storm has been a “tweener” meaning it has hit a day early and a day late from cycle to cycle. It is a big storm so there will be at least 2-3 days of precipitation. With luck we will still have cold air in place. Could the 900 mark come down to the last day?
Thanks for reading the blog, as always if you have any questions feel free to comment below, or send me an email to Mike@FutureSnow.CO
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
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