Colder will finally move into the Northwest on Tuesday and Wednesday with some much-needed snowfall expected following an extremely wet pattern with warm temperatures and high snow levels. 

The Washington and Oregon Cascades and BC Coast Range are expecting 2-4 feet of snow over the next 5 days, while the BC Interior and Canadian Rockies will pick up 1-3 feet. Many ski resorts in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming are also looking at 1-2 feet of snow over the next 5 days.

Forecast for Monday (Dec 15):

One more warm storm will impact the Northwest with high snow levels and rain for many areas during the day on Monday. However, a cold front will move through on Monday night with falling snow levels and a transition from rain to snow at many ski areas in British Columbia and Washington. 

In the East, a frigid airmass will linger following the passage of an arctic cold front on Saturday-Sunday. Lake-effect snow showers will develop across the Northeast, with locally heavy amounts possible in West Central New York. 

Forecast for Tuesday (Dec 16):

Another storm will impact the Northwest and Northern Rockies with heavy snow favoring Canada, Washington, and Northern Idaho/Montana. Lower elevation ski terrain in some areas will still see a rain/snow mix before a stronger cold front reaches the Northwest on Wednesday.

Forecast for Wednesday (Dec 17):

A stronger cold front will move through early Wednesday across the Northwest, leading to another drop in snow levels, and this colder airmass looks to have staying power over the Northwest and Western Canada.

Otherwise, this will be a transition day with one storm exiting and another making landfall on Wednesday night with heavy snow picking back up over the Washington Cascades and BC Coast Range. Light snow will also fall over Northern Utah and Northern Colorado, while California (including Tahoe) will see rain.

A significant warming trend will also begin to take hold across the Central and Eastern U.S. Dry conditions will hold over the East, but a storm will reach the Upper Midwest with snow developing over the Northern Great Lakes and rain over the Southern Great Lakes. 

Forecast for Thursday (Dec 18):

A strong storm will move across the Northwest and Northern Rockies, with heavy snow expected throughout these regions, along with low snow levels over the Northwest and Canada. Light snow will also fall over Northern Utah and Northern Colorado.

In the East, a rain event is expected as a storm moves through, but colder air arriving on the backside of the storm will result in precipitation ending as light snow in some areas.

Heavier snow is expected over the UP of Michigan and over portions of Ontario and Quebec, though mainly north of major ski areas. 

Forecast for Friday (Dec 19):

Heavy snow will continue across the Northwest and Northern Rockies, with light snow for the Central Rockies (Northern Utah to Colorado). The higher elevations of the Sierra will also pick up some snow, but mostly rain is expected for Tahoe resorts with a warm airmass in place.

In the East, light snow showers can be expected over the Northern Great Lakes and Northern New England.

Outlook for Sat (Dec 20) to Wed (Dec 24):

The pattern will continue to favor the Northwest and Canada, with frequent storms and low snow levels expected due to seasonal temperatures for late December. To the south, a wet pattern is also expected for Tahoe, but rain may continue to be an issue at times due to warm temperatures.

The same is even true for ski areas in Northern Utah, Southern Idaho, Western Wyoming, and Southwest Montana, where heavy snow is possible at times, but lower mountain rain is also possible at times due to well-above-normal temperatures.

Colorado looks to be right on the southern fringe of the storm track, with weaker storms expected along with well-above-normal temperatures.

In the East, we are beginning to see colder signals return to New England following a brief warm spell, while milder temperatures look to hold over the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Wednesday (December 17).

Alan Smith