#washington-cascades-storm

#washington-cascades-storm

The storm will begin warm and wind-affected on Friday, with snow levels starting around 7,000 to 8,000 feet, leading to wet conditions at lower elevations initially.

By April 1, the state's long-term snow data showed conditions unlike anything previously recorded. Of the 64 manual snow course sites in Colorado with records stretching back more than 50 years, 60 either tied or set their lowest April 1 readings ever observed.

Instead of trying to trick the public with some humorous fake news, the ski area set up small obstacle courses in the lift lines, forcing skiers and snowboarders to put in a little bit more effort to get on the slopes.

"We're always glad to welcome winter back, and this latest round of snow has ensured there are still great turns to be had as our spring season continues. Late season powder days are a bonus, and with the spring events and deals we have planned, it's not too late to get up here for some great skiing and riding!" - Mike Pierce, Marketing Director, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

SWE is the most important metric for all of our water resources. It's the metric that we deal with the most and the one that the entirety of the snow research and operations community is working to get right. So, seeing an increase in SWE like that, even if it's from mid-winter rain, is a great thing because that means we have more water stored in the snowpack moving forward.

Sunday and Monday bring the main event, and the models are tightly converged on a long-duration storm with heavy snow, strong northeast to north winds, and the best totals centered on northern Wisconsin and northern Lower Michigan. The main spread is not storm timing but exactly where the most intense band parks and how much the snow densifies Sunday afternoon, especially at the lower Michigan and southern Wisconsin hills.

WeatherAs forecasters anxiously watch models for better agreement, one thing is clear: a major winter storm-named Winter Storm Fern by The Weather Channel-is forecast to impact a vast portion of the United States this weekend, bringing a dangerous combination of heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold to much of the country. Winter Storm Fern is expected to impact more than 230 million people across roughly two-thirds of the U.S., stretching across approximately 33 states.

Confidence is highest through Saturday because the individual models agree well on the timing of the Thursday storm and the following break. Southern California's mountains pick up a quick shot of snow on Thursday with strong winds, then dry out into the weekend. Beyond the weekend, the signal stays active, but model spread grows fast on storm timing, snow levels, and wind impacts, so expect meaningful swings from run to run.

Many of us are riding the high of the recent major snowstorm wondering when the next big powder day will swing through. Unfortunately for most of North America, it looks like the snowy weather won't be returning anytime soon, or at least not for the next week. Meteorologist Chris Tomer 's Mountain Weather Update paints a rather sad picture for snowfall totals in North America between January 29th and February 5th.

The Stardust Motel launched a shuttle program over the summer to various recreation spots in the area, including the Trail of the Hiawatha, and is continuing the service over the winter with regular trips up to Lookout Pass on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I hopped on at the Stardust after a fabulous breakfast at The Tin Snug with some freshly baked pastries to go. The ride was easy and skipping parking was an added advantage with an influx of people brought by the recent snowfall.

WeatherDenver-based meteorologist Chris Tomer is one of the most accurate forecasters we know. Check out and subscribe to his mountain weather forecast videos to see where North America will get the most snow. On today's forecast from Tomer, he writes: "Storm track favors PNW/BC for best snow through 2/6, but also higher elevation rain/snow lines with warmer air." Meanwhile, the rest of the West experiences is beginning to appear as a snow drought and patiently waits for snow.

Sun night (02/15) through Tue night (02/17) is the core punch, and many Sierra mountains can stack 20″-50″ in that window as snow levels crash. Expect a lighter start Sunday night, then snowfall rates ramp up hard Monday night into Tuesday with widespread coverage across Tahoe, the central Sierra, and down into Mammoth. Snow levels begin around 5,000 to 5,500 feet early, then fall into the 1,500 to 2,500-foot range by Tuesday and Tuesday night, which helps keep even lower terrain in play for all-snow.