Strong Storm = Fresh October Snow Incoming!

Hello NW skiers and snowboarders,

There is more snowfall ahead with increasing snow coverage forecasted on all slopes.

• Today a strong storm is aimed at the Pacific Northwest and will move in Friday. 

• Initially, the storm has mild air with a modest atmospheric river attached to the incoming cold front.

• This means the first hours of the precipitation on mid-day Friday will see heavy rain falling on the current thin snowpack seen on the upper slopes at most ski areas.

• This will melt some of the meager existing snowpack, above 5,000ft.

• The actual snow level will be about 7,000ft, so that will mean most slopes will have the dreaded rain on snow, at first.  

Proof that the Poobah is real!

But that doesn’t last too long. 

By late Friday night and early Saturday morning the front moves through and colder air rushes in, dropping the snow level drops to 4,000 ft, plastering new snow (6-12”plus) on all the mid and upper slopes by late Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday & Sunday: That snowfall will be partially added to by two more systems later Saturday into Sunday, with strong winds causing drifting snow - which is good for pockets of good early season coverage.

There is uncertainty about the track and impacts of those two additional storms. 

Eventually the snow level will be about 3,000-3,500 ft – that isn't bad for pre-Halloween. Ski areas will see accumulating snow down to the lower slopes on Sunday, that is good news and uncommon but not unheard of for October in the Pacific Northwest. 

The snow levels are typically 6,000-7,000 ft this time of year, with lots of variation as storms becoming larger and more frequent in late October and early November.

The Pacific Ocean is warmest this time of year.

Our storms pick up some of that warmth producing occasional high snow levels with our fall storms. But those storms also pick up some of the increasing cold of the northern latitudes causing infrequent low snow levels. That is what causes our roller coaster snow levels in fall. It’s really that contrast of warm and cold which causes our Pacific storms.

The good news is the storm track is active and pointed out, favoring a good beginning of the snow season for the Northwest.

There is more unsettled weather forecasted for later next week, so the party continues. It’s too early to tell, but the next seven weeks is typically when we get the biggest atmospheric rivers with stormy weather including heavy rain/flooding and wind. Plus, sometimes huge multi-foot snowfalls in the Cascades. 

We are on a roll, enjoy!

Your Grand Poobah,

Larry Schick, Meteorologist

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• Sponsor announcements because they're keeping the stoke alive

• Women’s Outdoor Connection, Sat, Oct 25. Tickets only $35 (includes lunch)

  
  

Below: Shows widespread snowfall forecast (6-12” plus) over the Northwest Friday - late Sunday. Deepest snow favors Cascades into BC.

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