A storm will impact the West this weekend, bringing widespread precipitation and colder temperatures. Snow levels will start out high initially, but will quickly drop down to ski resort elevations once a cold front moves through.

The deepest snow totals are expected in the Canadian Rockies and Eastern BC, while the higher elevations in the Cascades and Northern U.S. Rockies will also pick up some respectable amounts.

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Below is the 10-day snow forecast range chart for Marmot Basin in Alberta. This area of the Canadian Rockies around Jasper will see 2-3 storms in the next 10 days, with most model snowfall projections ranging from 6-16 inches at Marmot Basin.

Forecast for Wed (Oct 8) to Thu (Oct 9):

A storm will move across Western Canada with snow favoring the higher terrain of the BC Coast Range, as well as northern portions of the Canadian Rockies, including Marmot Basin and Jasper.

Much of the Lower 48 will see a milder pattern, but moisture from the remnants of a tropical system in the Eastern Pacific will spread northward into the Southwest, with rain showers developing across the Four Corners states. Snow levels will stay high across this region with warmer air in place.

Forecast for Fri (Oct 10) to Sat (Oct 11):

Rain showers will increase across the West due to an uptick in subtropical moisture across the Southwest and Central Rockies, while moisture will also increase across the Pacific Northwest and Canada as a storm system arrives.

Snow levels will remain high across the Northwest and Canadian Rockies on Friday in the warm sector of this storm.

A cold front will arrive on Saturday, which will lead to lowering snow levels and a changeover from rain to snow at many ski resorts across the Northwest and Northern Rockies. The Canadian Rockies and BC Interior will see the heaviest snowfall. 

Forecast for Sun (Oct 12) to Mon (Oct 13):

A storm will continue to bring snow to the Northwest and Northern Rockies on Sunday.

Another storm will then approach the West Coast on Monday with more snow for the Cascades. Snow may also develop over the Sierra, including Tahoe ski resorts, but confidence is lower in this outcome.

Temperatures will be below average across most of the West, which will lead to relatively low snow levels for this time of year. 

Outlook for Tue (Oct 14) to Sat (Oct 18):

A slow-moving storm system is expected to impact the West next week with more snow possible across the Sierra, Cascades, and Central Rockies. Utah and Colorado will also have a better chance of picking up some snow in this pattern. 

An active storm track is also expected in Southeast Alaska, with average snow level projections of around 3,000 feet in the Chugach Range. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Friday (October 10).

Alan Smith