Go get it. Photo: Ikon Pass
It’s been a heckuva a good start to winter, the past few weeks. Multiple storms have dumped plenty of snow on resorts across the West, from the Four Corners region, to Tahoe, to Bachelor and Baker in the Pacific Northwest – all before resorts have fully opened for the season. Now, after lift access is starting to crank, we’ve been blessed with another powerful storm this week, with more on the way that could bring feet of snow to Sierra resorts.
“An active pattern continues for the upcoming week, with the Pacific Northwest leading the initial moisture train Monday through Tuesday,” wrote the good folks at PowderChasers. “The northern Rockies, including Idaho, will score double digits. Another very strong wave hits the West Tuesday through Thursday and provides a more southern track from the PNW to the Sierra. The northern Sierra could be deep. Water totals this week are very high.”
Things are looking spicy, with snow levels getting relatively low and staying fairly respectable throughout this run of storms (so hopefully no summit rain at your local).
Lookin’ good in the neighborhood. Image: PowderChasers
A quick snapshot from resorts across the PNW and Sierra shows nothing but positives. Mt. Bachelor received 10 inches overnight. Bachelor is only open on weekends until November 29, when it opens fully for the season. Mt. Baker racked up 14 inches in the last 24 hours and opens for the season this Thursday, November 21. Tamarack, in central Idaho, has received nearly 10 inches and opens December 6. Jackson Hole received five inches this week and starts firing lifts on November 29. Palisades also nabbed five inches this week and opens up for the season on November 22. Whistler has been getting absolutely pounded, receiving over 40 inches this week and opens up Thursday (we’ll have a report from opening day, there).
The real winner in this storm, says PowderChasers, will be the Sierra. Storm models are a little all over the place, but PC thinks that Lake Tahoe will be the place to chase pow Thursday or Friday, if you can get a day off. Storm totals in Northern California south into Tahoe are estimated to be between 55 and 30 inches of snow in some areas. Pretty solid start to winter.
