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Major Storm Hits the West Coast

By January 31, 2025No Comments

January 31, 2025

GFS and Euro Click Animate

Snow Totals thru Monday (Above 8000 Ft)

Snow Totals from NWS

Forecast Summary

We have a major storm hitting the west coast today with an atmospheric river (AR) event.  The caveat is it’ll be warm, especially for Lake Tahoe where we will have mostly rain at lake level–can’t catch a break.  Snow levels at the Lake rising to 8500 feet by tonight and will likely hang around until Saturday afternoon.    There is a lot of moisture associated with this storm, between 2-4 liquid inches translating to 2-4 feet above 8500.  

Further up the west coast in the Cascades it will be much colder for the Cascades where snow levels will not be a problem.  We have a split-flow, with the dividing line is around Mt Shasta California.  To the north the air is from Alaska and to the south Hawaii.  

Snow has just started to fall at Mt Hood and up to Crystal Mountain.  We have good numbers for Whistler and as far east as Revelstoke and it will snow all day thru the weekend as the low-pressure system straddling the coast and Seattle spins, dumping feet for the Cascades up to the Fitsimmons, Selkirk and Kootenay ranges in Canada.

This is a strong storm so expect travel impacts to be a factor–check the department of transportation for your state for road conditions.  

Timeline

Today 

Winter Storm Warnings throughout the West

The storm ramps up today for the west coast with 6-12 expected for Crystal, Snoqualmie, Mt Baker, Mt Hood, and Stevens Pass.  Tonight, another round of heavy snow with 1-2 feet possible in spots. 

Lake Tahoe mainly rain except above 8500 feet along the crest, 4-8″ possible for Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl and Palisades.  Overnight tonight will have much stronger wave rolling thru with 1-2 feet likely above 8000 ft.  Snow levels could drop with the downdraft of heavy precipitation, so that could be a bright spot if it happens.  

Tonight

Utah gets in on the action around midnight, with 4-8+ likely before first chair tomorrow at Alta and Snowbird.

Saturday

Heavy snow continues at the lake with snow levels lowering to around 7000 ft.  The crest is the best with another 8-16 likely.  In the Cascades, the snowfall rate slows a bit, but it should still pack a punch with 5-10 for Mt Hood and Mt Bachelor, with similar numbers to the north, Mt Baker and Crystal in the 5-10 range.

In Utah, heavy snow and Winter Storm Warnings as another 1-2 feet will fall throughout the day and evening.

In Colorado, the storm will hit the northern mountains with the heaviest precipitation around Steamboat and Rocky Mountain National Park.  Expect 3-6 inches for the boat with Vail/Beaver Creek, Winter Park and Copper in the 1-3 range.  

Sunday

The storm begins to wind down on the coast, but Utah is still in the action with light snow showers and another 4-8 before the lifts close for the day.  

Monday thru Thursday

The models have the AR storm continuing to churn Monday and Tuesday until the storm gets caught in the flow late Tuesday.  There is a lot of uncertainty at this point, as model agreement is not there yet.  When the storm does get caught in the flow this will bring another round for Utah and Colorado, probably on Wednesday.  

 

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Thank you for reading the blog and as always if you have any questions, please email me at Mike@FutureSnow.co

 

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