Winter will make an appearance across the West this week, providing opportunities for late-season powder at ski resorts that are still open. The Central Rockies will see some snow from a departing storm on Tuesday, then a storm will impact the Northwest and eventually the Central Rockies again from Tuesday through Saturday.

The Cascades and the Northern Rockies will pick up 1-2 feet of snow in this cycle, while most areas in Utah and Colorado are looking at 8-16 inches cumulative from Tuesday through Saturday.

In the map below, I've included ski areas that are still open this week.

Forecast for Tuesday (Apr 14):

The first departing storm will exit Utah with some light lingering snowfall, while Colorado will see moderate snowfall, with the highest totals favoring the Northern Front Range.

A strong and cold storm will then make landfall in the Northwest with heavy snow developing across BC and Washington, and moderate snow reaching Oregon. Snow levels will also be low in this pattern (especially by April standards) thanks to the arrival of cold air. 

Forecast for Wednesday (Apr 15):

A storm will continue to impact the Northwest with the focus of heavy snowfall shifting eastward into the Canadian Rockies, and southward into the Oregon Cascades and Northern U.S. Rockies.

Forecast for Thursday (Apr 16):

Snow will continue across the Northern Rockies and will also pick up across Utah, with temperatures and snow levels also trending lower as colder air arrives. Southwest Montana, Northwest Wyoming, and Northern Utah are all favored for the heaviest snowfall on Thursday.

Forecast for Fri (Apr 17) to Sat (Apr 18):

The storm will continue to progress southward with snowfall picking up across Colorado on Friday, while Utah and Wyoming will see snow taper off. Colorado may continue to see snow showers into the first part of the day on Saturday as well. 

A cold front will also move across the Upper Midwest with light to moderate snow possibly developing behind the front. A handful of ski resorts in the Upper Midwest are expected to remain open through this weekend.

Outlook for Sun (Apr 19) to Thu (Apr 24):

Another trough of low pressure is expected to reach the West Coast and slowly work its way across the Interior West next week, bringing rain and snow shower chances. Models are in poor agreement in the track and timing of this trough, so overall confidence in the forecast is low.

In the East, a sharp cooldown is expected on Sunday and Monday as a cold front moves through, and light snow is also possible across Northern New England. A handful of ski resorts in this area are expected to stay open into next week. 

Thanks so much for reading! Next update on Thursday (April 16).

Alan Smith 

OpenSnow: Your Daily Weather App

Ready to replace those "other" weather apps?

As the snow begins to melt and summer conditions quickly take over, remember that you can always use OpenSnow as your daily weather app during the non-winter months.

Features →

My Location 15-Day Forecast
Severe Weather Alerts
Global Storm Forecast
Super-Res Radar + StormNet
Current & Forecast Radar w/ Precip-Type
Recent Satellite Maps
Wildfire Smoke Forecast Maps
Active Fire & Perimeter Maps
3D & Offline Maps
And Much More!

Getting Started

1. Go to the OpenSnow app or OpenSnow.com
2. Tap the "My Location" tab for 15-day forecasts.
3. Tap the "Maps" tab for high-resolution maps.