Heres some good snow news. I have been hinting at this, but now there is more confidence this pattern will happen as the models indicate.

A major NW snow cycle will develop later this weekend and especially into next week. This is it. More ski slopes will open. I think we will see a minimum of 1-2 ft of snowfall Sunday - Thursday. I must say 2 foot plus is possible in many areas. The snow will fall with low snow levels, near 2,500ft much of the week. Confidence is high that we will receive the new snowfall, but amounts on the higher end are less certain. However, greater snowfall amounts are on the table and reasonably possible. This is a series of storms, so we have many good chances for the snow to pile up. There will be breaks in the storm cycle, but they are difficult to time. The snowy pattern will continue until further notice.

The weekend will start with a weak system worth a trace to 1 on Saturday. Then Sunday and Monday the snow fun begins, continuing all week with snow off and on the snowfall really piles up. Ill have another update this weekend to add confidence to the forecasted snowfall amounts and make adjustments if needed. The abundant new snowfall of next week will deepen the snowpack on much more ski terrain. Also, expect more NW ski areas to open for the first time this season.

Dont tell anybody, because its really beyond a reliable forecast confidence, but there are some indications the upcoming pattern may last longer than five to seven days. It could be an extended storm cycle, lasting more than a week. Its too early to tell, but there are hints in the extended forecasts that this may be a long-lasting snowy pattern. The Climate Prediction Center keeps us in an above normal precipitation pattern, with more mountain snow, through Dec 19th, so that also is evidence this snowy pattern is committed to the NW.

Again, expect the snowfall to continue at least until late next week or beyond, with a parade of stormsand I love a parade. Especially, a powder parade!

Happy Holidays. Hang on, here we go.

Your Grand Poobah of Powder
Larry Schick - meteorologist