Posted March 22, 6:55am MT 5:55am PT
Storm 2 Still Churning
High Resolution HRRR Model Click to Animate
4 Day Snow Total
Forecast Discussion
We are on Day 24 of Cycle 4 and the second storm in the “Trifecta like” series is still moving through the Sierra, Wasatch and Rockies today. Light snow totals in the Sierra through Thursday night, as it looks like the 3rd storm will just graze the Lake.
In the Pacific Northwest, light snow totals will continue until Thursday when Storm 3 arrives. This will be a big producer for the Cascades, especially the southern Cascade ranges, as 1-3 feet will fall for Mt Bachelor, Hoodoo, Mt Hood Meadows and Timberline.
For Utah, heavy snow today with strong winds and wind chills in the low single digits. Snow continues tonight until around midnight, then a break until early morning when another wave arrives. Light snow and light winds are on tap for your Thursday and Thursday evening. Storm 3 arrives early Friday morning.
Alta has reached the 700 mark, with another 1-2 feet possible today will likely move them into 3rd place, all time for the snowiest season.
For Colorado, heavy snow continues in the southern San Juans as Wolf Creek continues to get Utah like powder. Another 1-2 feet will fall today before a break in the action this evening. All mountains will see good snot today as Storm 2 moves through.
Forecast
Utah
Heavy snow throughout the day with strong winds between 20-30 mph with 40 mph gusts and ridgetop gusts in the 50’s.
Tonight
Snow continues throughout the night with a nice powder day tomorrow.
Tomorrow
Snow continues, not as heavy as Wednesday. Temperatures will be in the mid 20’s with wind chills in the single digits. Winds somewhat light between 10-15 mph.
Colorado
Today
Snow today with heavy snow at times. Warmer temperatures at base level rising into the mid 30’s at 8000 feet. Strong winds will dominate the day, especially along the divide, with winds in the upper 60’s possible above tree line.
Snow totals are expected to be in the 4-8 range for the northern and resorts along I-70. For the central and southern mountains, I am expecting higher totals, ranging from 5-10 at Crested Butte, Telluride and Silverton, to another 1-2 feet for Wolf Creek.
That system moves out this evening and Storm 3 should hit around mid-day Friday.
Lake Tahoe
Today-Thursday
Scattered snow showers this morning until around noon and then mostly cloudy. Temperatures will be in the upper 20’s with moderate winds between 15-20 mph and gusts around 30 at base level. Upper mountain wind gusts in the 40 mph range.
Scattered snow showers will continue off and on throughout tomorrow and tomorrow evening, adding 2-4 inches both today and tomorrow.
Tahoe Calendar
Below is the Lake Tahoe Calendar we published back on February 2nd. I have gone back and took a look at the calendars to see how we have done. The green squares are on the Long-Range Forecast prediction chart. Yellow squares are storms that have hit at least one cycle. Red Circles and X’s are misses and the Blue brackets are storms that have hit at within one day.
I am really happy with this calendar. We have tried to figure out the Lake, as it is on a different type of cycle, due to its location away from the general pattern jet stream. We are improving, the patent pending model has made forecasting Lake Tahoe easier.
Long-Range Forecast Predictions are out thru April
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