After a dry spell, the Intermountain Rocky Mountains will begin to see snowfall starting on Friday and that trend should continue throughout the entire weekend for areas of Colorado, California, and Utah with totals forecasted to range from between 6 inches to over 2 feet of powder by Sunday.

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The snowstorms are the result of the jet-stream dipping south after maintaining a northern positioning that has benefitted the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. More storms should follow as this change in jet stream positioning should deliver more low-pressure systems to the Rocky Mountains over the coming week.

Colorado – What To Expect In The Next 24-Hours: 1-3″

Right now, the jet stream is projected to deliver moisture under a strong southwest flow that tends to favor the San Juans and Elk Mountains including Telluride as well as Aspen Snowmass and Crested Butte. Other ski resorts along the I-70 corridor will also see snowfall but timing and totals remain up-in-air, pun intended.

Powder Pick: Telluride, CO

California – What To Expect In The Next 24-Hours: 1-4″ (high elevations)

Other areas such as the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, including the ski resorts surrounding Lake Tahoe, should see moderate snowfall on Friday before returning on Sunday. Snow levels will start off above lake level until Sunday when the snowline drops and the real powder returns.

Powder Pick: Kirkwood Resort

Utah – What To Expect In The Next 24-Hours: 1-3″

The same pattern change will also bring moisture and snowfall to the Wasatch Mountains with Little Cottonwood Canyon forecasted to see the most snow (6-12″ in the next 72 hours). If you ski or ride in southern Utah, Brian Head Resort could have over a foot of snow on the ground by Saturday morning.

Powder Pick: Snowbird

 

NOAA Hazardous Weather Outlook [Utah + Colorado]

This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado.

DAY ONE…Today and Tonight

Some light snow is expected along the Continental Divide today with a few inches of snow possible tonight for the Park Range.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Friday through Wednesday

A storm system will bring widespread precipitation to the area Friday through Saturday. Significant snow accumulations are possible for the mountains through that period. Unsettled weather continues after that with systems moving through every other day or so with more precipitation expected. 

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