According to Powderchasers, the PNW and Northern Rockies could see up to 2-3′ of snow starting Thursday through the weekend. This snow will be low density due to the cold air mass that is trapped in the Jet Stream in the Northwest this week. These storms will first hit the Sierra and bring warmer air along with them. Then, they will hit the Wasatch, Tetons, Central Idaho Friday and again through the upcoming weekend, along with Colorado on Saturday and Sunday. Atmospheric River Events may persist into next week, which could lead to HUGE snowfall totals by the end of next week.

“We could be looking at easily over 4-6 feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rockies by the end of next week,” stated Steve, from Powderchasers.

Affected Areas:

Sierra:

Moderate to heavy snowfall is expected to begin late Thursday night into early Friday morning at upper level elevations, which are above 8,000 feet. Round 2 comes late Friday into Saturday with at a similar elevation of 7,500 feet. The following week, snow levels are expected to rise with another heavy push of moisture throughout the area.

“The Good: Base building will be significant at upper slopes -12-17 inches  The Bad: Lower elevation rain/snow mix reduces the powder endorphin’s and next week could be warmer and wetter (Rising snow levels),” stated Powderchasers.

Rockies:

The Wasatch and Tetons will receive light to moderate snow throughout the day today and 4-8 inches will fall overnight tonight at Winter Park, Loveland, Keystone, Eldora and spots near the Divide tonight. Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming will see moderate snowfall beginning late Thursday into Friday. The Tetons and Idaho may see the higher end of 7-11 inches by Friday night from this storm, while Colorado will see slightly lower snowfall totals by then.

Round 2 of this system arrives at the start of the weekend and it is expected to bring decent snowfall totals to the Tetons, Wasatch, Montana, and Idaho. The cold air that is currently lingering in the north may kick off the second round of storms and drop a fair amount on the Wasatch, around 10-16″ in the Cottonwoods and 7-12″ elsewhere. Colorado’s northern and central mountains should see 6-12″ from this round that is slated to begin on Saturday into Sunday.

These storms should drop snow on states such as California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming! It is currently looking like Wyoming or Utah should see the highest snowfall totals, but it is too far out to know for sure.

Breckenridge received 5″ in the past 24 hours with 4-8″ forecasted overnight for much of Colorado, it is just a small part of what’s to come!