Warm temperatures and high snow levels will make for a tricky snow forecast across Western ski resorts this weekend, but snow levels will finally start to come down next week as a colder airmass gradually takes over.

We will see a split flow storm track with storms favoring Canada as well as the Sierra and Southern Rockies. Tahoe and Mammoth will see their best snowfall potential early next week, as well as the San Juans in Southern Colorado.

New England will continue to see a stellar early-season pattern through about the middle of next week, with many resorts opening up already. A brief warm-up will lead to rain at some ski areas on Saturday night, but colder air and snow showers will then return from Sunday through early next week. 

Forecast for Friday (Nov 14):

A storm will move across the Northwest with snow levels dropping low enough for a good round of snow across the BC Interior and the Canadian Rockies of Alberta. Higher elevation resorts such as Kicking Horse and Banff Sunshine will be favored.

To the south, a storm will linger over the Sierra Nevada Range, but snow levels will be quite high with rain impacts at most ski resorts. Rain is also expected at ski resorts in the Pacific Northwest and Northern U.S. Rockies. 

New England will see light snow showers and flurries along with cold temperatures as an unsettled northwest flow pattern continues. 

Forecast for Saturday (Nov 15):

A split flow pattern with warm temperatures will continue across the West. Another storm will reach the Sierra, but snow levels will remain very high with rain impacting most ski resorts.

A storm will also reach the Northwest and Canada, but snow levels will rise with a changeover to rain even at higher elevation Canadian resorts.

A storm will reach the Northeast on Saturday night, and some ski areas in New England will see a changeover to rain as a warm front moves through.

Forecast for Sun (Nov 16):

An active storm track will continue across the West with snow levels remaining high over the Northwest, while snow levels will start to drop across the Sierra with heavy snow developing at ski resorts as a cold front moves through.

Further inland, snow will also develop across the Central and Southern Rockies, with Southern Utah and Southern Colorado favored for the highest totals. This includes Wolf Creek and Brian Head. Even across the Rockies, snow levels will be higher than usual with rain falling near the bases of some resorts. 

In the Northeast, a cold front will move through, with mixed precipitation changing back over to snow across the Adirondacks, New England, and Quebec.

Forecast for Monday (Nov 17):

Another storm will move into the West, and a stronger push of cold air will lead to lower snow levels across the Sierra and across the Northwest. The Sierra will be favored for the highest snowfall totals in this pattern.

Snow showers will also continue across the Rockies, while temperatures will remain on the warmer side ahead of the cold front. 

Snow showers will also continue across the Northeast as a cold and unsettled northwest flow pattern persists.

Forecast for Tuesday (Nov 18):

The main focus of snowfall will shift into the Rockies as a cold front moves through, and snow levels will also gradually drop as colder air arrives. Southern Utah and Southwest Colorado will be favored for the deepest snow totals.

In the East, lingering flurries are possible in New England, while a storm will also move across the Mid-Atlantic with rain possibly mixed with snow over higher terrain in Pennsylvania and New York.

Outlook for Wed (Nov 19) to Sat (Nov 23):

A colder airmass will continue to take over across the West next week, with more seasonal temperatures expected for this time of year. 

Early in this period, the storm track will likely favor the Southwest, while later in the period, the storm track looks to favor the Northwest.

In the East, a significant warm-up is expected even in New England, with a higher threat of rain with storms that move through. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Monday (November 17).

Alan Smith 

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