SnoCountry SnoCast: Strong Western Systems, Eastern Lake Effect

Crystal Mountain in Washington opened Wednesday. (Crystal Mountain/Facebook)

A powerful weather system delivers heavy snow across the West through Friday, then leads to lake effect snow during the weekend for the East.

Western U.S. & Canada

An ongoing storm will greet us Thursday with heavy snow and wind, continuing Friday as it slides east. The Sierra Nevada will get heavy snow above 7,000 feet elevation Thursday with total accumulations of 12-36” and up to 48”! Heads up, Mammoth and Mt. Rose!

Up to 16” will fall in the higher elevations of Idaho. Wyoming’s Tetons will receive 12-24” Thursday into Friday and Colorado is set for 6-12” with locally higher amounts.

A break will give us time to enjoy the new snow Saturday and Sunday before another, weaker system arrives Monday. The next storm will be Wednesday, so keep an eye out for that one!

Midwest, Eastern U.S. & Canada

Cold and *some* snow is the forecast through Wednesday the 22nd. A quick storm Thursday night will give parts of the Northeast a shot of snow with accumulations of 2-6” by Friday for Bretton Woods and Sugarloaf. 

The West weather system will arrive in the East Saturday and Sunday with rain turning to snow. Lake effect snow will fall along the southern/eastern edges of the Great Lakes Saturday, Sunday, and possibly Monday as colder air sets in. In fact, this cold front may bring light accumulation all the way down to parts of West Virginia late Sunday.

It will remain cold enough for snowmaking operations for most of the time too, especially Sunday to Wednesday.