The East has had an outstanding start to ski season with consistently cold temperatures and abundant natural snow. We will see more of the same for the East this weekend and into early next week with more snow opportunities along with cold temperatures. All major ski regions in the East will pick up at least some snow over the next 5 days. 

Forecast for Friday (Dec 12):

In the West, a storm will bring snow to British Columbia and Alberta, while snow will also fall along the easternmost ranges of Montana, favoring areas such as Showdown and Teton Pass Resort. 

In the East, multiple weaker storms will bring light to moderate snow to the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Upper Midwest. 

Forecast for Saturday (Dec 13):

In the West, snow will continue to fall across British Columbia and Alberta, though snow levels will be on the rise for BC ski resorts as warmer air arrives. 

In the Midwest and the East, snow will develop along the leading edge of an arctic cold front, which will reach the Appalachians on Saturday evening.

Forecast for Sunday (Dec 14):

Another storm will impact the Northwest and Western Canada, but warm air will lead to rain in Washington, while even some of the higher elevation ski resorts in British Columbia will see rain falling up to mid-mountain or higher.

In the East, widespread snow showers can be expected as the arctic front moves through, including a round of snow for many East Coast cities. 

Forecast for Monday (Dec 15):

In the West, a warm storm will continue to bring snow and rain to British Columbia. In the East, a weak disturbance will bring light to moderate snow showers to the Great Lakes and Northern New England.

Forecast for Tuesday (Dec 16):

The pattern will finally turn more favorable across the Northwest as a colder storm arrives, with heavy snow and lower snow levels expected across Washington, British Columbia, and Alberta. Snow will also develop across the Northern U.S. Rockies. 

In the East, a few light snow showers will remain possible over Northern New England. 

Outlook for Wed (Dec 17) to Sun (Dec 21):

Get ready for a big change to the weather pattern across the Northwest as stubborn warmth finally relents, opening the door to frequent storms with lower snow levels. Heavy snow is possible for ski resorts in the Cascades as well as Western Canada, with the Northern U.S. Rockies also getting in on the action.

To the south, moisture will increase over California and around Tahoe, but storms may favor more rain versus snow initially. The Central Rockies (Utah and Colorado) will also remain warmer than average, but snow chances should eventually reach these areas as well. 

In the East, a major warm-up is expected with temperatures rising above average. Storms will remain possible in the Northeast, but they may bring a combination of rain and snow as the warmer airmass takes hold. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Monday (December 15).

Alan Smith 

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