WEDNESDAY 12:00pm Pacific Time:

ACTIVE WEEKEND! You will want to check out this whole update, lots of info in here. Do you like this info? Do you have suggestions? Please email me at chris@snowforecast.com

From Mammoth to Sun Valley to Alta to Aspen, this weekend you really cannot lose, no matter where you go...

As we all know this winter has been amazing! Most of the Western US resort regions (and the northeast) are covered in greater than usual snowpack, with upper elevations of the Pacific Northwest, Tahoe, Utah, and Colorado covered in 12+ feet of snow, some 20+ feet in the Sierra Nevada!

From our latest snowpack/ snow depth (satellite derived) imagery: (check this link for much more)


Tahoe (click for link to this map):


Utah, Alta (click for link to this map):


Western Colorado (click for link to this map):


We have an active snow week leading up to the weekend, and an active weekend, across Tahoe, Utah, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest, favoring the Sun Valley through Big Sky through Jackson Hole areas (with some others who are not in these zones, check below)! If you are looking for the absolute freshest snow for the weekend, you want to head to Colorado or Jackson Hole/ Big Sky, where it will be snowing through the weekend...


#1 for most recent fresh snow through Friday morning (and more coming Saturday) - Mammoth Mountain - Central Pacific storm  systems moving in with a combination of targeting Central California, and coming in with higher than usual snow levels, means that the 8,000 foot base elevation Mammoth Mountain is the #1 target for the heaviest snow with NO snow level issues, and an already deep 160 to 230" of snow (almost 20 feet in spots on the upper mountain!). 1 to 1 1/2 feet of fresh snow is expected from now and through Friday morning, then more moves in on Saturday, likely another 6 inches to a foot, and a SUNNY Sunday! It's something for everyone!

TOP PICKS:
#1 for fresh snow through the weekend- Northern Utah and Western Colorado: Moderate to heavy snow on Thursday, then more snow from the same storm, moving in slowly on Friday/ Saturday, significant additional snow, then another storm moving in on Sunday, will keep you in freshies all weekend at most Western Colorado and Northern Utah resorts. Snow levels will be an issue for areas like Park City/ Deer Vally/ Canyons, so we recommend the higher elevation resorts of western Colorado, unless you are headed to Alta or Brighton, Utah. Taos Mountain Resort is favored on Friday  under a southwest flow and good moisture as low pressure moves through the region.

#2 - Fresh snow through the weekend: Southern Idaho through Jackson Hole/ Big Sky: 1 foot of fresh snow for upper mountain areas is expected across southern Idaho, and to 2 feet on upper Jackson Hole Friday through Sunday...

Now through the weekend, snowfall: Winners? Mammoth Mountain, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Alta, Aspen-Snowmass


What were we saying a week ago (14th), about the weekend to come? "Next weekend (22nd - 24th) we expect for snow to be falling from Tahoe through Utah, and Colorado as the pattern becomes a bit unsettled again. There may be some snow level issues. Storms will likely be targeting the central Rocky Mountain areas of Utah and Colorado, but impact Tahoe initially and with the heaviest snow (and some snow level issues). So for now, Tahoe is looking best for next weekend." <--We have shifted to Mammoth due to snow level issues, otherwise, out forecast from a week ago, for the coming weekend, is still on track!


The amazing western US season continues... stay tuned. CM