Powder Days Ahead For CA/UT/WY/ID/MT/CO/NM

Tomer’s Take: Major storm cycle lasts until 2/10. A storm system continues to spin in CA with heavy rain and Sierra snow. A powerful Subtropical jet is transporting moisture ahead of this storm system on 2/5 into UT/ID/WY/MT and into CO/NM on 2/6. Smaller pieces of energy will dive into the intermountain west behind this storm and keep the snow going through 2/8-2/10.

My afternoon forecast video update:

Current Setup

Radar shows the main storm system spinning in CA. Powerful transport jet wind carries moisture into UT/ID/WY/MT.

Flash flooding continues in Southern CA. Almost a foot of rain in places from a rich AR surge, storm system, and powerful Subtropical jet flow.

Precipitable water (PWAT) valid early 2/5. This is a measure of moisture in the atmosphere. Notice the green/lime plume (or finger) of higher PWAT values pointing directly at Southern California. This is a signature of the atmospheric river (AR) and it enhances precipitation.