Fresh Pow for Christmas in Utah

      Systems continue to push into the west coast as the large parent low spins off the Pac NW coastline. Everything still on track with previous forecast. Main change is that short-range models are now within range and bringing in the details, so we have greater confidence in snowfall amounts. We will have breezy conditions today with a warm southwesterly flow ahead of the approaching systems. This flow should scour out the cold pools (inversions) in the valleys and allow them to warm up. Clouds should also be on the increase this afternoon
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      Tonight we have the first weak wave bring mostly mountain snow showers after about midnight. This will primarily affect the mountains north of I-80 and could bring 1-3″ of fresh snow for tomorrow. We will then see a break in the action Sunday afternoon / evening as the next, more potent, system enters the area.
This stronger system will bring snow to the area late Sunday night and the snow should continue all day on Monday before tapering off on Monday night. The system is currently progged to track perfectly to bring the entire Wasatch a good period of both frontal and post-frontal snowfall. This is by no means a major snowfall for the Wasatch, but everything looks good for a decent period of snow. The lower valleys might start as rain or rain/snow mix early Monday morning before changing to all snow as the front approaches late Monday morning. Valleys can expect 1-4″ of snow. The Wasatch should see .75-1.25″ of QPF and average snow ratios of 15:1 — this translates to about 10-18″ of snow for the high elevations. Not too shabby! The other concern will be travel conditions around the state, with Christmas eve being a busy travel day this could hamper travel to grandmas house. As of now this is what  UDOT is saying: ****Please check back Saturday afternoon for road weather impacts as a stronger storm moves through Utah Sunday evening through Monday (Christmas Eve).  Valley routes and the I-15 corridor are expected to see periods of light road snow while mountain routes will see moderate accumulations of road snow Sunday evening through Monday (Christmas Eve).***Click Here to go to UDOT's Road Weather Alerts

Here is the latest model-generated snowfall forecast for the Western CONUS through Christmas day:



      We should clear out on Christmas Day for blue bird conditions. Wednesday we’ll see the next system approach with snow likely Wednesday night-Thursday night, perhaps lasting to Friday. At this time this looks like a moderate storm. Great news for all the holiday skiers who are traveling to Utah for some freshies. But it could cause some travel headaches.

     The Cottonwoods and PC continue to do alright this year and are just above average snowpack, but the Northern Wasatch is struggling at less than 50% of normal in places so lets hope we can get some good snows going in their direction as well.