Updated April 10, 2017 (OLD)

TAHOE --> Across the western US later Tuesday through later Thursday (afternoon/ evening) it looks like Tahoe is the place to be for new snow, with the best snowfall Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, and snow levels starting near 7,000 feet or so, dropping to near 6,000 feet (below all Tahoe area resort base elevations) as strong late season low pressure moves in and through. A good foot of new snow is possible, with 1.5+ feet above 7,000 feet Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. Dynamics + moisture make this look like a bigger than 1 foot storm, but we will see... show up on Thursday for the freshies, with lighter snow showers continuing on a colder Thursday. The Cascades of Oregon/ Washington will also see more new snow, as will northern Idaho and northwest Montana. The rest of the west looks mostly dry. CM

LONGER RANGE...
Sunday through next Thursday looks snowy for Tahoe-Mammoth, with the storms that hit the west coast (full strength) weakening as they move inland. Snow is expected for the northern and central Rocky Mountains and northern Utah, Colorado as well. Resorts from Jackson Hole to Big Sky, Sun Valley to Whitefish, are all expected to see new snow, though many resorts will be closed by this point. The backcountry will be freshened up though. CM

FORECAST DISCUSSION (OLD Jan 06, 2017 - Friday at 4:27am PST
Friday --> Tahoe-Mammoth are going to get hammered!!! - The BIG news is the atmospheric river or "Pineapple Express" pattern setting up for northern California this weekend and into Monday. We will get to the facts; Models are predicting 9 to 11" of liquid equivalent precipitation for the region starting Saturday and through Monday. The snow starts flying again on Saturday, and snow levels will quickly rise to 5,000 in the morning, then 7,000 feet by Saturday afternoon. It looks like 1/2 to 1 foot of snow will fall, then (The Bad news) - By Saturday night and Sunday, when the heaviest rain and snow arrives, snow levels rise to 8,000 and even 9,000 feet at times, with over 9" (and up to 11") of water expected to fall. Dew point temperatures at 5,000 feet will be in the 43-48F range by Saturday night, so definitely rain at 5,000 feet, and up to 8,000 feet or so. The high snow levels continue through Sunday night. We would recommend not heading up for this on Sunday unless you want to be rained on. Mammoth, with a base at around 8,000 feet, and Kirkwood, with a base at 7,800 feet, will fare best, and snowfall totals just for Saturday and Sunday combined (through Sunday night), could yield 80 to 110" of snow!!!!! Between Saturday morning, and Sunday night, 80-110" of snow is possible for areas above 8,000 feet! (The good news) - By Monday snow levels drop back down to below resort elevations, and a series of colder storms blasts through northern California from then through Thursday, with 5 to 7 FEET of (by then, after the wet weather) much needed fresh snowfall across Tahoe and Mammoth!  CM

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