The Pacific storm track will continue to be the main story in this forecast with several rounds of storms and atmospheric rivers (ARs) affecting Alaska to British Columbia. These ARs will start on the warmer side with high snow levels, but colder air is expected by Friday and through the weekend. These storms and ARs will impact the US this weekend through the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies with light to moderate snow.

View → Total Snow Forecast Map

Check out our snow forecast and snow level range chart for Mt. Baker, with most models projecting 5-20 inches of snow (OS Blend = 11 inches) at mid-mountain. Notice the precipitation type changeover and drop in snow levels from Friday to Saturday!

Forecast for Wed (Oct 22) to Wed Night:

The Pacific storm track will impact British Columbia and Alberta on Wednesday. The center of this storm will stay to the north in Alaska and send warmer air with snow levels rising above 5,000 feet, bringing wet snow to BC and the higher elevations. This will be the warmest air of the week, with colder air and lower snow levels by the end of the week and into the weekend.

Forecast for Thu (Oct 23) to Thu Night:

A strengthening storm off the Alaska to British Columbia coast will bring heavier precipitation and colder air with lower snow levels on Thursday. The strengthening storm with a significant atmospheric river will bring 10-20+ inches of snow through coastal BC, with lowering snow levels on Thursday evening.

Looking in the US, a weak storm system pushing up from the Southwest will briefly strengthen over Colorado and develop light snow. A few snow showers will affect Utah and the Four-Corners area, but most snow accumulations of 1 - 6 inches will stay in the higher terrain of Colorado.

Forecast for Fri (Oct 24) to Fri Night:

The Colorado storm will weaken and dissipate on Friday. In British Columbia, the storm system will continue to bring high amounts of moisture from the associated AR. The AR will now bring colder air and lower snow levels down to 4,000 feet.

Whistler will see the heaviest snowfall on Friday, and areas throughout BC will see 3-day storm totals of 1-3+ feet for elevations above 4,000 feet. A significant elevation dependence of snow will be the story across coastal BC. A few snow showers will reach northern Washington on Friday evening, with more impacts this weekend.

Forecast for Sat (Oct 25) to Sat Night:

The Pacific storm track will shift further south into the Northwest of the US this weekend, with precipitation arriving late Friday and continuing through Saturday. Snow levels will start high on Saturday morning, but lower due to a blast of cold air behind the initial wave of AR moisture. Precipitation will be heaviest through the Cascades with lighter amounts of snow into the northern Rockies.

Forecast for Sun (Oct 26) to Sun Night:

On Sunday, another storm system will intensify off the Pacific Northwest coast and bring snow and colder air. The landfall location of this storm system is uncertain, and this will affect which areas see the heaviest snow of 6-12+ inches. A few snow showers could extend into California if the storm swings far enough south.

The Rockies will see the first storm system of this cycle bring widespread areas of snow. Snow totals will be light overall of 1-12 inches, with the heaviest totals in the Teton area. This storm will keep cold air through the PNW and into the northern Rockies.

Forecast for Mon (Oct 27) to Mon Night:

Lingering snow showers will affect the Northwest through the Rockies to start next week. The storm system will weaken significantly, but localized areas of snow showers could continue to bring light snow accumulations. There is model uncertainty about moisture amounts and which areas see the heaviest snowfall.

Outlook for Tue (Oct 28) to Sun (Nov 2):

The Pacific storm track is expected to lift north in the extended forecast through the last week of October. This will keep precipitation with several ARs into Alaska and British Columbia. Tail-end precipitation is possible through the Pacific Northwest, but it will be lighter with warmer air and higher snow levels. 

This storm track will keep most areas through the Rockies dry and on a warming trend, with a beautiful and uneventful weather pattern setting up through the end of October.

Across the East, a shift toward more active weather is on the way as the jet stream dips and sends several rounds of rain through the region. It doesn’t look quite cold enough for snow just yet, but the higher elevations could be marginally cold enough to see a few flakes if the weather pattern lines up.

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Friday (Oct 24).

Zach Butler