The Northwest will experience a major storm cycle this week and cold air will also remain locked in place through Friday, resulting in low snow levels and good quality snow.

Snow totals through Friday will range from 3-5 feet in the Washington Cascades and Southwest BC, while many areas in the Interior of BC into the Canadian Rockies will pick up 1-2 feet. Most ski resorts in Northern Idaho and Montana will also pick up anywhere from 6 to 16 inches.

Forecast for Monday (March 9):

A leading-edge storm will impact the Northwest on Monday and Monday night with heavy snow developing over the Washington Cascades and Southwest BC, with light to moderate snow around Mt. Hood in Oregon and across the Northern Rockies. 

Forecast for Tuesday (March 10):

The leading edge storm will bring additional light snow to most areas of the Northern Rockies, though pockets of locally heavy snow can be expected over the Beartooths and Bighorns in Montana/Wyoming.

A strong storm will make landfall in the Northwest with heavy snow developing over the Washington Cascades and BC Coast Range.

A storm will also move into the Midwest, with snow developing over Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, along with the UP of Michigan, while rain is expected south of these areas. 

Forecast for Wednesday (March 11):

A strong storm will continue to impact the Northwest with heavy snow for the Washington Cascades and BC Coast Range, while heavy snow will also expand inland into the BC Interior, Canadian Rockies, and far Northern U.S. Rockies. 

A storm will move from the Northern Great Lakes into Eastern Canada with heavy snow for portions of Ontario and Quebec, though most major ski areas will see rain or mixed precipitation to the south of these heavy snow regions. 

Forecast for Thursday (March 12):

A storm will continue to bring heavy snow to the Washington Cascades and Western Canada, while snowfall cover will expand a bit further south across Northern Idaho and Western Montana.

A storm will also move across the Eastern U.S. and Southeast Canada with rain falling initially in the warm sector, before a cold front moves through with snow showers developing behind the front from Quebec and New England into the Central and Southern Appalachians.

Another storm will reach the Upper Midwest as well, with snow developing across Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the UP of Michigan. 

Forecast for Friday (March 13):

The Northwest will continue to see heavy snow, with the focus shifting south of the U.S. border, where the Washington Cascades will continue to be favored along with the Northern U.S. Rockies.

A storm will also move across the Upper Midwest into the Northeast, with another round of snow possible as a colder airmass will already be in place behind Thursday's cold front. 

Outlook for Sat (March 14) to Wed (March 18):

Heading into the weekend and next week, a ridge of high pressure will intensify over the Western U.S., resulting in well above average temperatures and mostly dry conditions for California, the Southwest, and the Southern/Central U.S. Rockies.

An active storm track is expected to continue across the Northwest U.S. and Western Canada, but warmer air will also arrive this weekend, which will lead to higher snow levels and some rain concerns, especially for the Cascades. Higher elevation ski resorts in BC and Alberta will be the most favored for snow in this pattern.

The Upper Midwest and the East will also see below-average temperatures during this period, meaning it will feel like winter again, and multiple storms with snow chances are also possible. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Wednesday (March 11).

Alan Smith