Snow news is good news this week as a massive, two-segment storm has arrived in the Intermountain Rockies today and will continue to dump its payload through the President’s Day Holiday. Right now, areas of Utah are projected to see some of their best powder days of the season, as are the resorts of Colorado. Other areas currently forecasted to see double-digit snow totals are the mountains of Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming. The Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe should see decent totals, albeit smaller.

Related: Reserve your spot on the mountain this season with RSVP – Refundable Ski Vacation Packages

However, what’s truly remarkable about this particular series of storm systems is the low temperatures that will accompany them. Thanks to an Arctic Blast coming in from the North Pole and a Pacific low-pressure system moving in from the northwest, the clashing systems will not only produce ample snowfall but it should be an extremely light powder as well. Often called “Cold Smoke,” this type of snow that is usually reserved for Montana will be seen everywhere from Idaho to Colorado.

Let’s take a look…

Ski.com President’s Day Powder-Chase Picks:

  1. Snowbird/Alta, UT
  2. Jackson Hole, WY
  3. Grand Targhee, WY
  4. Park City, UT
  5. Steamboat, CO

NOAA SHORT TERM FORECAST DISCUSSION:

…A series of winter storms to result in heavy snow accumulations from the Northwest to the Midwest this weekend…

The expansive dome of sub-freezing temperatures across the northern tier of the country has laid the foundation for winter storms to wreak havoc from coast-to-coast not only going into this weekend but also into next week. Today, periods of snow will blanket portions of the Northwest, the Intermountain West, and Midwest. The heaviest snowfall is anticipated in the Cascades, Tetons, and Colorado Rockies with accumulations over a foot possible. While lesser totals would occur in parts of the Northwest and central Plains, totals of 3 to 6 inches could lead to hazardous travel conditions. This has resulted in the issuance of Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings in these areas. By Saturday, a Pacific storm system slamming into the Pacific Northwest generates heavy snow and ice accumulations from Portland to Seattle. Pacific moisture out ahead of the storm system reaches the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Intermountain West where periods of heavy mountain snow are likely. Hazardous travel conditions by both ground and air are expected in these areas into the upcoming weekend. 

Forecast Radar for Sunday, 2/14/21 | Image: NOAA

Snowbird, UT:

Jackson Hole, WY: 

Steamboat, CO: 

LET IT SNOW!

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