US and Canada Daily Snow
By Alan Smith, Meteorologist Posted 2 days ago December 30, 2024
Pattern Favors the Northwest and Northern Rockies
Summary
An active pattern will continue this week with frequent storms bringing heavy snow to the Cascades and Northern Rockies. A similar pattern may continue into next week as well. Sustained cold will reach the East after New Year's with increasing snowfall potential over the next 1-2 weeks.
Short Term Forecast
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5-Day Snow Forecast:
Storms will continue to favor the Northwest and Northern Rockies over the next 5 days, while Utah and Colorado will be just on the southern fringe of the storm track. This particular model projects some snow in Tahoe later this week as well, but it's an outlier as other models are drier for Tahoe.
Ski areas favored for deep snow totals in this pattern include...
- Grand Targhee (WY)
- Jackson Hole (WY)
- Whitefish (MT)
- Schweitzer (ID)
- Stevens Pass (WA)
- Crystal Mountain (WA)
- Mt. Hood Meadows (OR)
More details from our local experts...
Forecast for Mon (Dec 30) to Tue (Dec 31):
The Northern Rockies will be on the tail end of a storm on Monday with light to moderate snow and colder temperatures (better quality snow). The next storm will reach the Cascades on Tuesday night.
The East will see a wet pattern initially with rain across New England and the Mid-Atlantic. As colder air arrives on Tuesday night, a transition to snow or mixed precipitation will occur over Northern New England, the Great Lakes, and the higher terrain of the Mid-Atlantic.
Forecast for Wed (Jan 1) to Thu (Jan 2):
The next storm will bring another round of heavy snow to the Northwest and Northern Rockies, favoring Washington, Oregon, Northern Idaho, Montana, and Western Wyoming. Temperatures will start cold but will trend warmer with rising snow levels on Thursday.
Colder air will push into the East with rain or mixed precipitation changing over to snow. Northern New England and areas favored for lake effect snow could see significant snow totals.
Forecast for Fri (Jan 3) to Sat (Jan 4):
Another storm will move into the West, but models are in poor agreement with the storm track. The Northwest and Northern Rockies will likely be favored once again.
Some models (such as the one pictured below) are projecting snow for Tahoe and Central Rockies, but others are projecting the storm track to remain too far north for these areas to see any meaningful snow.
Snow showers will continue across the East with colder temperatures expected.
Extended Forecast
Outlook for Sun (Jan 5) to Thu (Jan 9):
A northwest flow storm track will persist across the West with high pressure leading to warmer and drier conditions over California and the southwest. Storms tracking over the northern periphery of the ridge will lead to additional snow chances across the Northwest and Northern Rockies, and possibly Colorado.
The East is looking very interesting as sustained cold air takes hold, while an active storm track is also expected with the potential for significant snow in some areas.
Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Wednesday (January 1).
Alan Smith
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