It’s coming. Photo: Unsplash
If you’ve spent any time in the mountains this winter, maybe other than Colorado or Utah’s Wasatch, you know how thin the snowpack is. From Whistler to the Sierra, things are (were) shallow. But “things” are about to change, according to our powder-sniffing friends at Powderchasers. The snow-monitoring site is calling for feet of snow for most of the West, and the storms have already begun in the Sierra starting today. But thankfully, the longterm outlook is fantastic as well.
“The first wave is moving ashore currently for the Sierra range and will land 8-12 inches for many ski areas along the Sierra Crest,” writes Powderchasers in its report last night. “The western side of the lake will be favored with nearly an inch of moisture. Areas further east including the Mt. Rose Highway or Diamond Peak might see lower totals. It’s possible that some spots on the Sierra Crest from Sugar Bowl, Homewood, and farther south to Kirkwood see an excess of 12 inches by Wednesday morning (All overnight powder). Mammoth will be in the mix as well with perhaps slightly lower totals. South-southwest winds might keep the deep totals a bit more isolated (wildcard downside as the last storm). We are much more optimistic with this one.”
California and the four-corners region of Colorado should all score during this event. But again, this is just the start. A second wave comes in during the weekend that will blanket most of the West. Washington, Montana, northern Idaho will all get some along with the Sierra region during this second run.
“That system will bring double digits to western BC, PNW (Washington favored), and northern Idaho, especially near Selkirk Powder and the Schweitzer Ski area peaking late Saturday to Sunday,” according to Powderchasers. “Convergence zones near I-90 might enhance snowfall over Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie. Northern Montana near Whitefish also appear to finally be in the path of some appreciable snow totals where 12-15 inches are possible.”
Powderchasers is also calling for another moisture trough around the 10th of January or mid next week. A quick look at Western resorts show that Southern California’s Big Bear received four inches last night. Mammoth did end up scoring a solid 13 inches. Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor received two inches. Palisades grabbed eight inches in 24 hours. South Lake Tahoe is also scoring with Kirkwood getting 11 inches in the last 24. Washington’s Mt. Baker also nabbed three inches out of the first part of this storm cycle.
Things are definitely looking up. Stay tuned.
