Weather
A warm, moisture-loaded pattern dominates the Northern Rockies this week, favoring deep but often dense midweek snow in the BC interior and Tetons, then gradually shifting to colder, higher-quality powder in the Canadian Rockies as we head into the weekend. Snow levels start quite high with this event, so the best accumulation focuses on upper-mountain terrain, especially at Big White, Revelstoke, and the higher Tetons and Southwest Montana peaks, while valley bases see more rain or heavy, wet snow. By late week, colder air east of the Continental Divide improves snow quality at Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine, and Mount Norquay, while the BC interior and Idaho Panhandle keep piling on with additional moderate surges. Strong ridge-top winds will be a recurring factor, particularly in Wyoming and southwest Montana, and the medium-range pattern favors continued above-normal temperatures with periodic storms bringing more opportunities for refreshes at higher elevations mid-month.
Tuesday through Thursday brings a classic warm storm across the Northern Rockies with the most consistent midweek accumulation at the higher BC interior and Teton resorts. Moist southwest flow tied to a strong moisture plume keeps snow levels generally around 7,000 to 9,000 feet across Idaho and western Montana, so lower bases see rain or a wet mix while upper elevations from Big White and Revelstoke down through Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole collect several inches of dense, wind-affected snow. In these zones, snow-to-liquid ratios mostly sit in the 6–11:1 range, which means heavy, supportive turns rather than blower powder for the open terrain at Targhee, Jackson, Big White, and Revelstoke. Farther north and east into the Canadian Rockies, colder air keeps snow levels closer to 2,000 to 3,500 feet and temperatures mainly in the teens and low 20s, so Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine, and Mount Norquay enjoy much lighter snow with ratios frequently in the 14–18:1 range even during this first wave.
From Thursday into the weekend, additional waves favor gradual cooling and improving snow quality in the Canadian Rockies while the BC interior and Idaho Panhandle continue to stack dense but skiable snow. Revelstoke and Big White stay active with another modest surge from Thursday night into Sunday that nudges totals toward the one-and-a-half to near two-foot mark at the summits, with snow levels dipping toward 1,400 to 3,000 feet and snow ratios climbing into the 11–14:1 range for a drier feel by the weekend; closed RED Mountain quietly builds a solid base with smaller but meaningful top-ups. In the Canadian Rockies, a sequence of colder pulses from Friday through Sunday keeps temperatures in the single digits and teens at times and snow ratios in the mid to upper teens, so Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine, and Mount Norquay collect a series of lighter, chalky refreshes well suited for the open terrain. By contrast, the southern tier from Brundage and Schweitzer through Whitefish, Big Sky, and Bridger Bowl remains on the warmer, windier side of the pattern: Brundage and Schweitzer pick up brief, heavy midweek shots as snow levels hover near or above their bases, and Big Sky and Bridger see relatively small but dense accumulations combined with frequent west winds gusting 40 to over 50 mph that will keep exposed alpine slopes heavily wind-affected while Bridger, still closed until December 12, quietly pads its early-season base.
Looking beyond this period, the broader pattern through the middle of next week favors continued mild temperatures with periodic storms, especially for the Northern Rockies and BC interior. Guidance through the 6–10 and 8–14 day windows supports above-normal temperatures and an active storm track from the Pacific Northwest into the Northern Rockies, so higher elevations stand a good chance of additional snowfall even as lower valleys remain vulnerable to rain and elevated snow levels. Ridges briefly build at times over the Intermountain West, which may bring short lulls or more settled weather for places like Brundage and Big Sky, but renewed troughs sliding in from the Pacific should periodically recharge snowpacks at Big White, Revelstoke, and the Montana ranges. Powder chasers focusing on open terrain will likely find the best blend of coverage and snow quality in the Canadian Rockies and upper-elevation BC interior as colder intrusions clip the region, while mid- and lower-elevation hills continue to ride the line between wet storms and colder, more efficient snow events.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Big White – 15″–22″ Tue night (12/09) – Sat night (12/13)
- Revelstoke – 15″–21″ total (10″–14″ Tue night (12/09) – Thu night (12/11) + 5″–7″ Thu night (12/11) – Sun (12/14))
- Lake Louise – 11″–16″ total (7″–10″ Tue night (12/09) – Thu night (12/11) + 2″–4″ Fri (12/12) – Sat (12/13) + 1″–2″ Sat night (12/13) – Sun (12/14))
- Banff Sunshine – 10″–14″ Tue night (12/09) – Sat (12/13)
- Whitefish Mountain – 5″–8″ total (4″–5″ Tue night (12/09) – Wed (12/10) + 2″–3″ Thu night (12/11) – Sat night (12/13))
- Mount Norquay – 5″–7″ total (4″–5″ Tue night (12/09) – Thu night (12/11) + 1″–2″ Thu night (12/11) – Sat (12/13))
- Jackson Hole – 6″–7″ Tue (12/09) – Wed (12/10)
- Grand Targhee – 5″–6″ Tue (12/09) – Wed night (12/10)
- RED Mountain – 4″–6″ total (3″–4″ Tue night (12/09) – Wed (12/10) + 1″–2″ Fri (12/12) – Fri night (12/12))
- Brundage – 3″–4″ Tue (12/09) – Tue night (12/09)
- Big Sky – 3″–4″ total (2″–2″ Tue (12/09) – Wed (12/10) + 1″–2″ Thu night (12/11) – Fri night (12/12))
- Bridger Bowl – 2″–3″ Thu night (12/11) – Fri night (12/12)
- Schweitzer – 2″–2″ Tue night (12/09)
