Weather
Best snow targets are the Alberta Rockies, where open terrain at Lake Louise and Sunshine should net 7″–11″ by Saturday night, while interior British Columbia picks up 4″–6″ and the U.S. Northern Rockies see lighter 1″–3″ with breezy ridgelines. Snow starts wetter on Thursday, improves Friday as snow levels fall, and winds gust 25–45 mph over exposed high terrain; another light shot looks possible late Sunday into Monday with more systems likely next week.
Thursday brings a warm-front brush with high snow levels, so early flakes are confined to the highest terrain and run on the denser side. Light snow begins across the Canadian Rockies during the day Thursday, while northern Idaho and northwest Montana mostly wait for the more organized push Thursday night. Early snow-to-liquid ratios are low to moderate, generally 6–10:1, which favors heavier, creamier accumulations at elevation. South to southwest winds increase Thursday afternoon with common ridgeline gusts near 30–45 mph, enough to keep exposed slopes chalky rather than deep.
Thursday night into Friday is the main snow window, with the Banff/Lake Louise zone taking the lead as colder air drains in. Snow levels fall to about 4,000–4,500 feet on the U.S. side by Friday, and down toward 2,400–3,400 feet near Banff/Lake Louise Friday night, so snow quality steadily improves into the weekend. For the open terrain, Lake Louise is favored around 7″–11″ and Sunshine around 7″–10″ through Saturday night; SLRs trend into the 12–16:1 range Friday night, so expect soft, chalky turns in wind-sheltered aspects. Interior BC runs lighter but steady, with Revelstoke and Big White near 4″–6″ total, mainly Thursday night and Friday night, and a slightly denser feel (ratios mostly 7–11:1). Across northern Idaho and northwest Montana, amounts look modest—Schweitzer roughly 2″–3″ and Whitefish about 1″–2″—with ratios near 6–7:1 and 25–35 mph ridgetop gusts that can leave the new snow a bit wind-affected.
Saturday keeps light leftovers across the Canadian Rockies while the U.S. side tapers, then most areas trend quieter into Sunday. Canadian resorts still pick up light snow through Saturday night as the moisture plume decays, with intensity easing through the day. Revelstoke may add only a trace by Sunday as the deeper moisture shifts away, while Idaho and northwest Montana settle into colder, drier air with just spotty flurries. Grand Targhee sits on the southern fringe this round; Friday stays warm with snow levels around 8,100–8,500 feet and SLRs near 5–7:1, so expect a very light, wet upper-mountain coating while the area remains closed until November 21. RED Mountain sees only a token inch over the Friday–Saturday window given marginal ratios near 7–8:1.
The broader pattern stays active into mid and late next week, keeping periodic Pacific shots aimed at the northern tier. Signals favor above-normal precipitation chances across the Inland Northwest during November 17–25 with near to below normal temperatures in the West, supporting additional light to occasionally moderate mountain-snow opportunities. Another weak wave is possible late Sunday into Monday on the U.S. side, with modest, elevation-focused totals if it materializes. With Lake Louise and Sunshine already spinning lifts, the best window for soft turns looks Friday night into Saturday morning; for the still-closed hills, these systems help inch early-season base upward on the coldest upper elevations.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Lake Louise – 7″–11″ Thu (11/13) – Sat night (11/15)
- Banff Sunshine – 7″–10″ Thu (11/13) – Sat night (11/15)
- Revelstoke – 4″–6″ Thu night (11/13) – Sun (11/16)
- Big White – 4″–6″ Thu night (11/13) – Sat night (11/15)
- Mount Norquay – 3″–4″ Thu night (11/13) – Sat (11/15)
- Schweitzer – 2″–3″ Fri (11/14) – Fri night (11/14)
- Whitefish Mountain – 1″–2″ Fri (11/14) – Sat (11/15)
- Grand Targhee – 1″–2″ Fri (11/14) – Fri night (11/14)
- RED Mountain – 1″ Fri (11/14) – Sat (11/15)
