4 Feet of Snow Forecasted, West Scores Before Temps Rise Next Week
A powerhouse storm cycle is hammering the Pacific Northwest mountains—especially the Oregon Cascades—with 2–4 feet of denser snow through the weekend. Washington's Cascades will also cash in with over two feet of moderate-density snow. Further inland (Northern Rockies, Utah, Colorado), storms deliver lighter but notable accumulations, with a broader warm-up looming early next week. Bottom line: Get it while it's deep!Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.
Below, we combine each previous night's snowfall (4 PM–8 AM) with the same day's snow (8 AM–4 PM) to pinpoint the best windows to chase powder.
PNW: Light snow starts in the Washington and Oregon Cascades by afternoon. Not enough for a dedicated chase yet, but a teaser of what's coming.Elsewhere: Mostly quiet for the Northern Rockies, Utah, and Colorado. Save your energy for later in the week.
(Combining Wed night + Thu day)
Oregon Cascades (Timberline, Mt. Bachelor): Timberline could stack 7–9" by early Thursday afternoon, with Bachelor hitting around 6–8". Snow levels will fluctuate (3,000–5,000') and the snow will be on the heavier side (SLRs often <9), but volume rules here—Thursday morning laps should be surfy and deep.Washington Cascades (Stevens, Baker, Crystal): Look for ~5–8" new by noon Thursday (a bit higher at Baker). SLRs hover around 9–11, slightly lighter than Oregon. Plan for moderate-density pow turns, especially mid-mountain and higher.Northern Rockies, Utah, Colorado: Minimal new snow. No strong chase suggestion unless you're itching for any freshies at local hills.
(Combining Thu night + Fri day)
Washington Cascades (Mt. Baker, Stevens): Another 7–12" possible by Friday afternoon (highest at Baker). This round remains pretty dense—okay if you prefer a supportive base with fresh fluff on top. Winds could swirl in the 20–40 mph range, but the deepening storm is a go for the chase.Oregon Cascades (Timberline, Bachelor): Expect around 4–7" new by midday Friday. Still leaning heavy (especially Timberline), but if you want raw accumulation, you'll find it.Northern Rockies (ID Panhandle, Western MT): Brundage, Schweitzer, and Whitefish each pick up modest refreshes—generally 3–6" total by midday Friday. Not a huge dump, but enough to freshen surfaces.Utah & Colorado: Light or no significant accumulations for Friday morning. Next wave arrives late Friday into Saturday.
(Combining Fri night + Sat day)
Oregon Cascades (Timberline): Could see another 6–9" by Saturday afternoon, capping off a multi-day total pushing two feet or more. Snow levels hover ~4,000–5,000' with heavier moisture. It's a classic 'big dump' scenario, though not blower—bring the snorkel mainly for depth, not dryness.Washington Cascades (Stevens, Crystal): Expect around 5–8" new by midday. Winds continue, but you'll score a seriously deep multi-day total by Saturday. Storm skiing vibe with moderate-density fluff up top.Northern Rockies (Grand Targhee, Jackson, parts of SW Montana): Targhee adds ~3–5" fresh. Not huge, but decent quality (SLRs can top 12+). Could be a sneaky fun day—especially if earlier wind didn't mess things up.Colorado (Steamboat, I-70 corridor resorts): First wave arrives Friday night, delivering maybe 2–5" by Saturday morning at Steamboat, Vail, and Winter Park. Most mountains stack up a bit more through the day Saturday. Nothing monstrous, but enough for soft turns.Utah (Powder Mountain, the Cottonwoods): Friday night plus Saturday might tally ~2–4" at Powder, ~2–3" in the Cottonwoods. Not a full-on dump, but storms may preserve decent conditions if temps stay cool.
(Combining Sat night + Sun day)
PNW: Snowfall tapers. A few leftover inches possible in the Washington Cascades and northern Oregon. Not a prime chase day, but it's the tail end of a deep cycle, so leftover pow stashes should be good in wind-protected zones.Northern Rockies: Light wrap-around leftovers (1–2" in some spots).Utah & Colorado: Storms wind down except for spotty snow in Colorado's central/northern mountains. Likely only a couple of inches. Things will start warming soon, so Sunday might be the final chance for fresh surfaces.Overall Sunday: Decreasing returns. If you're already stationed in the Cascades or a favored Northern Rockies zone, you'll find leftover goods in the morning. After that, plan on the big warm-up next week.
Good: Oregon/Washington Cascades see multi-day totals well over a foot, up to 2+ feet in spots (Oregon possibly near 2–3 feet). Enough new snow to surf day after day.Washington's moderate-density snow (SLR ~9–11) strikes a sweet spot for stability and float. Some Northern Rockies hotspots (like Targhee) get respectable fluff, especially Thursday–Saturday.Bad: Heavier snow in the Oregon Cascades, especially Timberline and Bachelor (frequent SLR <9). Deep, but not blower by any means. Winds could create crusts/drifting, especially in Washington and across exposed ridges in the Northern Rockies/Colorado. Snow levels in Oregon can spike to 4,000–5,000'—lower mountain may get glop or rain.Wildcards: Strong winds (40+ mph gusts) that can hammer open terrain and lead to lift disruptions. Rising snow levels in some areas on Friday/Saturday could reduce quality at lower elevations.
Oregon Cascades: A surge of Pacific moisture slams into the range, with snow levels dancing between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. Above 4,500', 2–4 feet is on the table through Saturday—dense but deep. Winds from the southwest are strong, shifting to westerly. Timberline and Bachelor are prime for deep snowfall but expect very wet, heavy snow.Washington Cascades: Multi-day totals may surpass two feet from Stevens to Baker, with moderate SLRs (generally 9–11). Snow levels bounce 2,500–4,000 feet. Gusty conditions (20–40 mph, local 50 mph along ridgetops) could lead to drifting. Nonetheless, day-after-day reloads should keep it fresh, especially mid- to upper-mountain.
Idaho Panhandle, Western Montana: Periodic waves bring moderate accumulations—3–6" chunks each day in places like Schweitzer, Whitefish, and Brundage, with potential for a bit more overnight into Friday. Snow quality is mixed, but cooler temps keep it from getting too heavy.Wyoming (Targhee, Jackson): Storm arrival Thursday delivers 3–10" in the Tetons by Thursday night. Lighter refreshes Friday into Saturday. Targhee's SLR can spike above 12, so watch for occasional blower pockets. Jackson Hole sees smaller totals but with fairly high SLR—still decent fluff.Montana (Big Sky, Bridger): Light accumulations hit Thursday–Friday, then another wave Friday night–Saturday. Totals aren't huge (a few inches at a time), but cooler temps could preserve snow quality in upper bowls. Gusty winds along the Rocky Mountain Front.
High pressure breaks down late Friday. Northern Utah mountains snag a small shot of snow Friday night into Saturday (1–4" range). Upper Cottonwoods (Alta/Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude) have the best odds, though amounts remain modest. Temperatures remain below normal until the weekend—expect workable pow conditions Friday night, turning more spring-like Sunday onward.
North-Central Mountains (Steamboat, Winter Park, Summit County): Minor accumulations Thursday night, then again Friday night into Saturday. Steamboat could net 2–5" by early Saturday, with an additional few inches Saturday day. SLRs look fairly high (often above 12), so even small totals can ski nicely. Winter Park, Copper, and Breck see similar patterns.Southern & Central Mountains (Telluride, Crested Butte, Monarch): Late Friday into Saturday produces moderate hits (a few inches each round). Not a major storm, but the cooler temps keep quality decent. By Sunday, things taper off as ridging builds. Expect a big warm-up early next week.
Light to moderate snow arrives Wednesday night into Thursday for Tahoe areas (Sugar Bowl, Palisades), mainly 2–5" above 5,000–6,000'. Winds cranking up to 40+ mph on ridges. After a quick break, a weak system clips far northern Sierra Friday but mostly misses the main Tahoe resorts. High pressure then dominates over the weekend, launching a serious warm-up.
High pressure establishes over much of the West early next week, bringing a sharp warm-up and largely dry conditions. Expect potential spring corn cycles or even slushy afternoons by midweek. Farther north (PNW, northern Rockies) may see occasional showers, but big storms look less likely until maybe late next week. If you want one more shot of deep, go now—because the thaw is coming in hot.
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