The first major storm of the fall has brought widespread snow across the higher terrain of the Western US this past weekend. Snow reports as of Monday morning are showing 6-16+ inches, and webcams are showing people getting after it with the first turns of the year!

Check out Grand Targhee with foliage, snow, and skiers on the slopes!

View → Previous 1-5 Days Snowfall

View → Total Snow Forecast Map

Check out our snow forecast range chart for Mammoth. Most models are projecting 8-18 inches of snow (OS Blend = 16 inches) at mid-mountain. Also, in the bottom chart, we show that the precipitation type will be all snow in this storm!

Forecast for Mon (Oct 13) to Mon Night:

The storm in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies will continue to bring light snow with high snow levels on Monday. Precipitation will clear throughout the day as the storm slides south and starts to bring light snow into the Sierra.

As the storm moves south, it will strengthen and be something to pay attention to over the coming days, with significant snow expected!

Forecast for Tue (Oct 14) to Tue Night:

The storm system will strengthen in the Sierra and drop early-season significant snow, with the highest totals expected to be south of Tahoe and through Mammoth. Most areas will see around 1 foot of snow, and higher elevations will approach 2 feet! A few snow showers will extend north of this storm into the Northern Rockies with minimal impacts.

Forecast for Wed (Oct 15) to Wed Night:

Both storms will weaken in the Sierra and Northern Rockies, which will keep snow showers light, bringing minimal to light snow accumulations. Temperatures will remain well below normal due to this storm system. 

Forecast for Thu (Oct 16) to Thu Night:

The storm in the Sierra will dissipate, bringing clearing conditions. The storm in the Rockies will remain semi-stationary and be weak, with minimal to light snow accumulations continuing. This trend will continue over the next several days.

Forecast for Fri (Oct 17) to Sat Night:

More light snow showers will continue in the Northern Rockies with minimal to light impacts. Another storm will slowly enter the Northwest through Canada, extending light snow showers into British Columbia and Alberta.

Forecast for Sat (Oct 18) to Sat Night:

Another day of light snow showers will bring minimal to light impacts in the Rockies. The storm in the Northwest will gain intensity off the coast, bringing heavier coastal snow and light inland snow. This storm over the weekend has uncertainty in relation to storm intensity and landfall location, which will affect snow accumulations in the Northwest next weekend. 

Outlook for Sun (Oct 19) to Thu (Oct 23):

Cooler air will continue across the Western US in the extended forecast. This, combined with a couple of storm systems entering the Northwest, will continue to bring light precipitation. High elevation light snow will continue bringing minimal to light impacts. 

These storm systems will not be consistent, though, which means we will see on-and-off periods of nice and clear weather, with other days of storminess and light precipitation. As the West sees cooler air, the Northeast will see warmer air with inactive weather.

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Wednesday (Oct 15).

Zach Butler