Two closed lows over the United States will create some exciting weather for us this week. The less important low meanders from Minnesota today to New York on Friday. The more important one forms tomorrow over Nevada, and lumbers its way directly over Colorado from Wednesday night to Friday morning. It is slow and has a decent amount of moisture. A jet streak may provide a bit of a boost later this week as well. So, what does all this mean?
With a little luck, we’ll get 1-2 feet of snow this week out of the storm. The snow looks to start late on Monday evening and go through Friday afternoon. Here are each of the medium-term model snow forecasts for the entire storm for our patrol zone:
22” – American Model
16” – UK Met Model
15” – Canadian Model
12” – European Model
Looking at the models, the best powder mornings will likely be Wednesday and Friday mornings, though there will be continuing snow throughout the whole week.
If anyone is curious, here are each of the short-term model snow forecasts through Thursday noon (as these models only go out that far) for our patrol zone:
13” – RDPS Model
11” – NAM Model
7” – WRF Model
A few more thoughts. Lots of positives for this storm. The temperatures (except Thursday) look cold for this time of year, which is good for snow production. And, the winds will be easterly the entire time, which is good (though who knows if it will be strong enough to be really really good). Both the low and the jet streak will also assist with producing snow. On the other hand, the center of the low doesn’t look like the classic huge snow producers for us – the biggest storms tend to have the low centered to our south.
Fingers’ crossed.
Cheers everyone.
-Jordan (Monday midday)
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all forecasts are for 10,000’ in exposed areas. References to American Model are the American (GFS) Model. References to the Canadian Model are the Canadian (GDPS) Model. References to the WRF Model are the CAIC WRF Hi-Res Model. References to the European Model are the European (ECMWF) Model.
