Source: maps.weatherbell.com

This forecast was written at 12 a.m. MST on Monday, December 16, 2024

Forecast Summary

• Snow is still falling in spots from a storm this past weekend, but will wrap up by Monday morning.
• A disturbance brings snow showers back into Central/Southern Idaho and Western Wyoming Monday morning through Tuesday morning.
• Another disturbance follows on Wednesday, but this time snow targets Northern Idaho.
• A much drier week begins on Thursday, but there are signs of an active pattern again beginning around Christmas.

Source: maps.weatherbell.com

A major snowstorm is currently impacting the Pacific Northwest, with widespread Winter Storm Warnings across the Cascades. Some moisture from that storm will make it over the Central Cascades and reach the Northern Rockies on Monday.

Temperatures are still cool from this past weekend’s storm, so snow levels will start out down around 4,000 feet, dropping down to all valleys floors by Monday night. This will allow even the base of the lower elevation resorts to see all snow throughout this storm.

The vast majority of snow on Monday-Tuesday will focus on the mountains of Southwest Idaho and Western Wyoming. In particular, look for Tamarack, Sun Valley, Grand Targhee, and Jackson Hole to see the highest snowfall totals.

Source: maps.weatherbell.com

A second disturbance skirts along the U.S./Canada border on Wednesday and brings some snow to Northern Idaho. Snow levels will actually start out fairly high this time at around 5,000-6,000 feet. However, snow levels will drop down to 2-3,000 feet later on Wednesday. Expect elevations above 6,000 feet to see substantially higher snowfall totals than areas below 6,000 feet.

Snowfall Totals for Monday-Wednesday:

• Tamarack (ID): 8-14″
• Schweitzer (ID): 6-14″
• Sun Valley (ID): 5-10″
• Big Sky (MT): 2-6″
• Jackson Hole (WY): 8-16″
• Grand Targhee (WY): 12-24″

Extended Outlook

The next several days are looking dry across the Northern Rockies as a ridge of high pressure settles in. However, models are starting to show a system moving in on Christmas Eve that kicks off an active final week of 2024. Let’s hope that we finish the year off on a high note!

Source: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/