Weather
A very active pattern targets the Northern Rockies through early next week, with the deepest new snow focused on the Tetons and southwest Montana while interior British Columbia, Idaho, northwest Montana, and the Canadian Rockies all pick up meaningful base-building storms and a milder, wetter stretch beyond. Expect a standout storm from Thursday night through Saturday, a secondary refresh Sunday into Monday, and then a shift toward warmer, still-active weather next week that favors continued upper-mountain accumulation but increasingly dense snow at lower elevations.
The first main storm from Thursday night through Saturday centers on the Tetons and southwest Montana, delivering the most exciting powder potential of this cycle. Persistent northwest flow feeds several waves across western Wyoming and southwest Montana, producing sustained mountain snow for Grand Targhee, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, and Bridger Bowl. Snow levels run roughly 3,000 to 4,000 feet early, rising toward 5,000 to 6,500 feet late in the period, so these high-elevation resorts stay solidly in snow while adjacent valleys see more mixed precipitation. Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole stack up a deep upper-mountain base by Tuesday, with cold temperatures in the teens and 20s and snow-to-liquid ratios generally in the 14–17:1 range early, easing into the low teens late, so snow quality starts out light and remains generally dry. Grand Targhee opens Friday, setting up soft, cold turns for opening weekend, while open terrain at Jackson and Big Sky rides best Friday into Saturday as snowfall intensity peaks.
A secondary wave from Sunday into Monday adds a modest refresh while winds stay strong along the high ridges. Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee pick up additional light to moderate snow Sunday night and Monday, though rising snow levels toward 6,000 to near 7,000 feet and snow ratios closer to 10–12:1 mean a denser feel compared to earlier in the cycle, especially on lower slopes. Big Sky and closed-for-now Bridger Bowl receive a smaller top-off after their main Thursday through Saturday dump, with continued strong west winds aloft and gusts pushing into the 40 to 50 mph range on exposed ridges that will stiffen snow on windward aspects and load leeward gullies. West of the Tetons into central Idaho, Sun Valley sees a brief hit of snow Friday night into Saturday with marginal snow levels near the base, while currently closed Bogus Basin, Tamarack, and Brundage continue to quietly build a base from repeated storms, albeit with increasingly dense, wind-affected snow as temperatures climb.
Farther north and west, interior British Columbia, north Idaho, and northwest Montana ride the same storm train with steadier but slightly warmer snow, while the Canadian Rockies stay colder with smaller but very dry totals. Big White, Revelstoke, and RED Mountain experience multiple overlapping waves from Thursday through Monday night, with snow levels generally near 2,500 to 3,500 feet initially and trending upward toward 4,000 feet or higher late, keeping their mid and upper elevations in snow while lower terrain occasionally edges toward a wetter mix. Whitefish Mountain and Schweitzer see consistent snowfall from Friday through early next week with snow-to-liquid ratios mostly in the 10–13:1 range at first, sliding toward 7–9:1 by Monday as warmer, moister air arrives, so snow quality evolves from fair, grippy powder toward creamier, heavier snow at the lower chairs. Ridge-top southwest to west winds routinely in the 30 to 40 mph range, with gusts higher at times, will sculpt drifts and create variable surface conditions, especially along ridgelines and open bowls at these open resorts.
Across the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine, and Mount Norquay stay on the colder side of the pattern with modest but high-quality accumulations, and the broader outlook keeps the storm door open while gradually warming the region. Through Tuesday, these high, cold resorts collect several light to moderate shots of snow with temperatures mostly in the teens and low 20s, snow levels well below the base, and snow-to-liquid ratios often in the 15–17:1 range, so new snow remains dry and chalky even where totals are not as large as in the Tetons. A distinct pulse Monday night into Tuesday focuses an extra bump of accumulation at Banff Sunshine and Mount Norquay with only light winds and little temperature change, keeping surface quality smooth. Looking beyond this period, guidance favors a continuation of an active pattern for the Northern Rockies with precipitation skewing above average and temperatures trending warmer than normal, especially in Idaho and western Montana, so additional systems should keep upper-mountain snowpacks growing while bringing higher snow levels and denser snow to lower bases later next week.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Grand Targhee – 27″–40″ Thu (12/04) – Tue (12/09)
- Jackson Hole – 20″–29″ Thu night (12/04) – Tue (12/09)
- Brundage – 16″–24″ Thu (12/04) – Tue (12/09)
- Revelstoke – 14″–23″ Fri (12/05) – Mon night (12/08)
- Big White – 13″–19″ total (2″–3″ Thu (12/04) – Thu night (12/04) + 7″–10″ Fri (12/05) – Sat night (12/06) + 4″–6″ Sun (12/07) – Mon night (12/08))
- Big Sky – 13″–18″ total (12″–17″ Thu (12/04) – Sat night (12/06) + 1″–1″ Sun night (12/07) – Mon (12/08))
- Bridger Bowl – 13″–17″ Thu (12/04) – Sat night (12/06)
- Schweitzer – 10″–16″ Fri (12/05) – Mon night (12/08)
- Whitefish Mountain – 9″–14″ Fri (12/05) – Tue (12/09)
- RED Mountain – 8″–13″ total (4″–5″ Fri (12/05) – Sat night (12/06) + 4″–8″ Sun (12/07) – Mon night (12/08))
- Tamarack – 9″–12″ Thu night (12/04) – Mon night (12/08)
- Lake Louise – 7″–11″ Fri (12/05) – Tue (12/09)
- Banff Sunshine – 6″–10″ total (3″–5″ Fri (12/05) – Mon (12/08) + 3″–5″ Mon night (12/08) – Tue (12/09))
- Bogus Basin – 7″–9″ total (5″–7″ Thu night (12/04) – Sat night (12/06) + 1″–2″ Sun night (12/07) – Mon night (12/08))
- Mount Norquay – 2″–3″ Mon night (12/08) – Tue (12/09)
- Sun Valley – 1″–2″ Fri night (12/05) – Sat (12/06)
