Posted March 20, 7:20 am MT 6:20 am PT
Angry Snow at Tahoe Click to Animate
Storm 1 Reaches Colorado Today
Forecast Discussion
Heavy snow today from the Sierra, Wasatch and western Colorado this morning as storm 1 moves across the CONUS. Snow is on the radar at the Grand Junction station, I can confirm, looking at the webcam, it is snowing hard at Powderhorn. Storm 1 will continue to move east northeast and reach all Colorado resorts by this evening. For Colorado, the central and southern mountains will fare the best with up to 6 feet is possible for Wolf Creek.
Storm 2 is rapidly moving into place and will hit the southern coast of California tomorrow morning. This is a Low-pressure system that is riding a trough and the lower bands will be sheared off and whipped, like a skater on the end of a human chain and flung towards Utah and Colorado. This animation below shows the action. It’s right at the end of the gif.
Storm 3 hits the Pacific Northwest coast Thursday. Summary, it will snow all week with a few breaks in between bands and storms that will add up to feet of snow for California, Utah and Colorado.
Long-Range Forecast Predictions are out thru April
Forecast
Lake Tahoe
Forecast Charts High Resolution, 5-day Totals, Surface Wind and Ridgetop Wind (click to animate)
Today
We get a break between storms, although some spots will have a few lingering snow showers this morning. By afternoon, it will be sunny and breezy today with temperatures in the mid 30’s at base level.
Tomorrow
The next storm moves in with heavy snow throughout the Sierra. Expect winds to be strong between 25-30 mph with base level gusts around 40 mph. Ridgetop winds in the low 50’s. Temperatures wil be in the upper 20’s to around freezing, at lake level.
Wednesday
There will likely be a break between Tuesday nights snowfall and Wednesday morning, but the snow should pick up by the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the upper 20’s with light winds, for Tahoe, in the 10-15 range.
Utah
Today heavy snot througoht the day with Temperatures in the upper 20’s at base level. Winds will be on the light to moderate, between 10-15 mph at base level and gusting to near 30 mph up top.
Tuesday there will be a break in between storms, in the morning, as the next storm will move in the early afternoon. Tomorrow night, the second storm gets cranking and there should be a nice layer of fresh powder for first chair.
Wedmesday heavy snow throughout the day with strong winds with this one. Expect winds between 20-30 mph with 40 mph gusts and ridgetop gusts in the 50’s.
Colorado
5 Day Total
Today
Snow begins for most resorts this afternoon. It will warm with highs in the upper 30’s and winds will be light between 5-10 mph with stronger winds along the passes.
Tomorrow
Tuesday will have breaks in between bands with temperatures much colder with highs in the upper 20’s. Winds will be moderate between 10-15 mph with gusts around the mid 20’s.
Wednesday
Strong winds will dominate the day, especially along the divide, with ridgetop gusts in the 50’s. Temperatures will rise, due to the strong southwest wind, into the upper 30’s at 8000 feet.
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
