An active pattern will continue to take shape across the West following a couple of appetizer storms earlier this week. Tahoe will be the most favored over the next 5 days, with 1 to 3 feet of snow expected on Monday-Tuesday, while most areas in the Rockies and the Northwest will see anywhere from 6 to 18 inches over the next 5 days. 

Forecast for Friday (Feb 13):

A weak storm will move across the Southern Rockies on Friday with light to moderate snow favoring Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico.

A storm will also reach the Northwest with light to moderate snow developing across Western Canada and Washington. Snow levels will be low as colder air arrives with this storm.

In the East, a weak disturbance will bring light snow to Ontario and Western New York.

Forecast for Saturday (Feb 14):

A storm will continue to impact the Northwest with snow spreading southward into the Oregon Cascades as well as Northern Idaho and Montana. Over the Southern Rockies, lingering light snow showers will taper off on Saturday morning. 

In the East, a weak disturbance will bring light snow showers and flurries to New York, New England, and Quebec.

Forecast for Sunday (Feb 15):

In the West, BC and Alberta will see a break in the pattern while snow will linger across the Oregon Cascades and the Inland Northwest, mainly over Idaho and Montana. Snow may also begin over Northern California as early as Sunday night as the next storm approaches, but there's also a chance it holds off there until Monday.

Forecast for Monday (Feb 16):

A storm will make landfall in California with heavy snow developing across the Sierra Nevada Range, including Tahoe. This storm will cover a large area with snow spreading into the Northwest, Western Canada, and Northern U.S. Rockies on Monday night. 

In the Northeast, another weak disturbance will bring snow showers mainly to areas north and west of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, but some snow shower activity is also possible over Northern New England.

Forecast for Tuesday (Feb 17):

A storm will continue to work its way inland across the West with heavy snow continuing across the Sierra, while the Southern and Central Rockies will also receive significant snowfall. Moderate snowfall is also expected further north across the Northwest U.S. and Western Canada.

Outlook for Wed (Feb 18) to Sun (Feb 22):

An active pattern will continue across the West, with below-average temperatures also expected. Storms will favor the Sierra and the Southern/Central Rockies initially, with the dominant storm track then shifting into the Northwest and Northern Rockies by later in this period.

In the East, temperatures will be well above average further south and slightly above average across the Northeast, but still much warmer than recent weeks. Multiple storms are also expected across the Northwest, with uncertainty regarding precipitation type. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Monday (February 16).

Alan Smith