Tomer’s Take: A pattern shift occurs after 3/21 across most of the West. Two different storm systems are lined-up through 3/27 for the PNW/BC/MT/CA/ID/WY/UT/CO.

Timing

Pattern Shift After 3/21, Two Storm Systems.

Sierra: Heavy Accum PM 3/22-3/24.

Tetons: Light Accum 3/21, H 3/23-3/26.

Wasatch: Light Accum PM 3/21, H PM 3/22-3/26.

Colorado: Light Accum PM 3/21-3/22, H 3/23-3/26.

Banff Area: Heavy Accum 3/20-3/23.

Northeast: L Accum 3/19-3/20, M/H 3/23, 3/25.

My afternoon forecast video update:

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows the dying cut-off low over the 4-Corners.

Three different areas of low pressure are lined-up in the Pacific for the pattern shift after 3/21.

Orange/red = drier air aloft.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Grand totals by late 3/28.

Northeast:

Bulk of accumulation occurs 3/23 & 3/25.

Tomer’s Take: The waiting game continues for the Central and Northern Rockies with high pressure in control. A pattern shift occurs on/after 3/21. A single storm system and buckling jet delivers moderate to heavy snow accumulation to PNW/BC/MT/WY/ID/CA/UT/CO. A second storm system appears to be missing or much weaker.

Timing

*Updated 4:15pm 3/18/2024.

Totals trending up because 2nd storm system is back in the mix.

Sierra: Next Storm System PM 3/22-3/23.

Tetons: Light Accum 3/21, H 3/23-3/26.

Wasatch: Light Accum PM 3/21, H PM 3/22-3/26.

Colorado: Light Accum PM 3/22, H 3/23-3/27.

Banff Area: Heavy Accum 3/20-3/24.

Northeast: L/M Accum 3/18-3/21, M/H 3/23.

My afternoon forecast update video:

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows the cut-off low continuing to spin over the 4-Corners. Notice the high pressure over the Central and Northern Rockies.

The pattern change occurs with the two areas of low pressure over the Pacific on/after 3/21. Now it appears that only one area of low pressure survives.

Orange/red = drier air aloft.

Total Liquid From 3/13-3/15 CO Storm System

This was a warm, wet storm system. Impressive liquid totals of 1-4 inches. This fluffed up to 1-5 feet of snow accumulation.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Grand Totals by late 3/27.

Tomer’s Take: It’s a waiting game for the Central and Northern Rockies with high pressure in control. The next pattern shift and storm system(s) arrives on/after 3/21 for PNW/CA/ID/MT/UT/WY/CO.

A cut-off low continues to spin across the Four Corners with waves of snow through 3/19.

Timing

Cut-Off Low Continues across S. Utah/AZ/NM/SW CO.

Sierra: Next Storm System 3/22-3/23, 3/25-3/26.

Tetons: Next Storm System PM 3/22-3/24, 3/26.

Wasatch: Next Storm System PM 3/21-3/24, 3/26.

Colorado: Next Storm System 3/22-3/25.

Revelstoke: Next Storm System PM 3/20-3/22.

Northeast: L/M Accum 3/18-3/21.

My afternoon forecast video update:

I was out yesterday morning skiing Colorado’s backcountry and there was some nice powder from the big storm system on 3/15. This was not a cold storm system for Colorado, and some of the snow at lower elevations was dense.

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows the cut-off low over the 4-Corners. It also shows the high pressure over the Central and Northern Rockies.

The forecast keys are the two areas of low pressure over the Pacific. They will usher in the pattern shift on/after 3/21.

Orange/red = drier air aloft.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Grand totals by late 3/26.

Tomer’s Take: The big Colorado storm system is sliding south and retrograding West where it will sit and spin for several days. Accumulation next 5 days occurs in Southern CO, NM, Southern UT, and AZ. It stays high and dry in the Central and Northern Rockies, PNW/BC through 3/19. Then the pattern shifts with a large storm system and powerful jet stream. Heavy snow accumulation possible 3/20-3/24 across BC/PNW/MT/ID/UT/WY/CO/CA.

Timing

Low Retrogrades and Spins.

Tetons: Next Storm System 3/21-3/24.

Wasatch: Next Storm System 3/21-3/24.

Colorado: Next Storm System 3/21-3/24.

Revelstoke: Next Storm System Late 3/20-3/23.

Northeast: Light Accum 3/18, 3/20, H 3/23.

My forecast video update:

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows the retrograding low pressure. The next storm system in the Pacific is part of the pattern shift on/after 3/20.

Orange/red = drier air aloft.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Northeast:

Bulk of accumulation would occur on/about 3/23.

Tomer’s Take: Another 1-2 feet of snow accumulation in the Foothills of Colorado by early 3/15 then snow tapers off. It’s a backbreaker snow accumulation with marginal temps for many locations including Denver.

This storm system gets cut-off from the main flow 3/15-3/20 and retrogrades west into AZ/UT. The pattern dries out in the Central/Northern Intermountain West until on/after 3/21.

Timing

*Updated 5pm 3/14/2024.

CO Snow Tapers Early 3/15.

Low Retrogrades into AZ/UT/NM/SW CO for several days.

Tetons: Next Storm System 3/21-3/24.

Wasatch: Next Storm System 3/21-3/24.

Colorado: Next Storm System 3/21-3/24.

Northeast: Rain 3/15, R 3/17, Light Accum 3/18, H 3/23.

My afternoon forecast update video:

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows the dance going on between the building high and the big Colorado snowstorm.

Red/orange = drier air aloft.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Northeast:

VT/NH/ME: Rain 3/15, 3/17, Light Snow Accum 3/18, Heavy 3/23.

Tomer’s Take: Major storm system remains on track for Colorado afternoon 3/13 through morning 3/15. I’m forecasting 1-3 feet of total snow accumulation on the Continental Divide-East above 6,000ft, Foothills, Western Suburbs, Palmer Divide, and Southern Colorado. Northern New Mexico could see 10-20 inches.

Denver starts as rain 3/13 then changes to snow overnight into 3/14 and trickles into early 3/15. This will be heavy/wet back-breaking snow. Significantly less accumulation across Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley.

Timing

*Updated 4pm 3/13/2024.

Classic Colorado March snowstorm on track.

1-3FT (or more) Tonight – 3/15 Divide-East above 6,000ft, Foothills, Palmer Divide.

Tetons: Next Storm System 3/21-3/23.

Wasatch: Next Storm System 3/21-3/23.

Northeast: Rain Tonight, 3/15, R 3/17, Snow 3/18.

My afternoon forecast video update:

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows the main storm system pivoting out of UT/WY and into CO.

The 2nd low over the Pacific plays a role in a pattern shift after 3/20.

Orange/red = drier air aloft.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Grand totals by late 3/22.

Northeast:

VT/NH/ME: Rain 3/15, 3/17. Snow possible 3/18-3/19.

Tomer’s Take: A major Colorado storm system spins up 3/13-3/14 maximizing orographics. Many ski areas could see 1-2 feet of accumulation.

Timing

*Updated 6pm 3/11/2024.

Colorado Low Spins Up 3/13-3/15, totals down slightly.

Colorado: Light Accum Tonight-3/12, H 3/13-3/14, L 3/15.

Tetons: Light Accum Tonight, M 3/12-3/13.

Wasatch: Light Accum Tonight, M 3/12-3/13.

New Mexico: Moderate Accum 3/13-3/15, H 3/16.

Northeast: R/S 3/16, Snow 3/19.

My afternoon forecast video update:

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows a small pre-storm system 3/11 then a major area of low pressure riding the Northern Jet into the PNW/BC. This is the storm system that dives south into UT/WY/CO/NM 3/12-3/15.

Red/orange = drier air aloft.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Grand totals by late 3/20.

Northeast:

VT/NH/ME: Light snow accumulation 3/11. Rain to snow 3/15-3/16.

Tomer’s Take: Light snow accumulation continues across VT/NH/ME into early 3/11. Out West, the stormtrack favors the PNW/BC/Northern Tier through 3/11 then the northern jet buckles south into UT/WY/CO 3/12-3/14 with moderate to heavy snow accumulation. The storm system strengthens in SE Colorado with enhanced snow accumulation on the Divide and across Southern Colorado. A large dome of high pressure builds into the PNW/BC 3/16-3/19.

Timing

*Updated 5pm 3/10/2024.

Revelstoke & Red Mountain: 8-10″ Now-3/12.

Tetons: Light Accum PM 3/11, M 3/12-3/13.

Wasatch: Light Accum PM 3/11, M 3/12-3/13.

Colorado Low Spins Up 3/13-3/15.

Colorado: Heav Accum 3/13, M 3/14, L 3/15.

Northeast: Light Accum into 3/11.

My afternoon forecast video update:

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows two storm systems riding the northern jet into the PNW/BC/Northern Tier through 3/11. Then the jet buckles south into UT/WY/CO 3/12-3/14.

Orange/red = drier air aloft.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Grand totals by late 3/19.

Tomer’s Take: Heavy snow hits the major ski areas of NY/VT/NH/ME the evening of 3/9 through 3/10. Light snow trickles into early 3/11. Out West, the pattern favors the PNW/BC/Northern Tier 3/9-3/11 for moderate to heavy snow accumulation. This pattern and a storm system dives south into ID/WY/UT/CO/NM 3/12-3/14 with moderate to heavy snow accumulation. The storm systems strengthens in CO/NM with snowfall enhancement.

Timing

*Updated 4pm 3/9/2024.

Northeast: Heavy Snow Tonight-3/10 (above 1500ft), M/H 3/15-3/16. Tetons: M/H 3/12-3/13.

Wasatch: Light Snow PM 3/11, M/H 3/12-3/13.

Colorado: M/H Snow Late 3/12-3/15.

Revelstoke: Heavy Snow Late 3/9-3/12.

My afternoon forecast video update:

Current Setup

Water vapor satellite shows a loaded Northern Branch targeting the PNW/BC/Northern Tier through 3/11. Also notice the storm system sliding into the Northeast with the Southern Jet.

Orange/red = drier air aloft.

Forecast Radar & Satellite

Forecast Totals

Grand totals by late 3/18.