Weekly North America Forecast, Thursday January 30th – Heavy Rain & Snow Across Mid- U.S., Cold Temps & Moderate Totals in Canada
Written Wednesday afternoon, 29th January (Pacific Standard Time)
After some good snowfall across the southern tier of the U.S. during the weekend and on Wednesday, the action will shift northwards for the coming 7-day period.
A storm from the north will stall this weekend, allowing an atmospheric river of warm, humid air to setup over California and north-central U.S. Rockies, bringing heavy rain to high elevations. Tahoe resorts, in particular, will cop it, but temps and snow levels will creep back down early next week.
North of all this, Canada and the Northern U.S. will see decent snowfall over the next few days as an Arctic Airmass sinks southwards this weekend and eventually dries things out early next week.
Thursday January 30th & Friday January 31st
Remaining snowfall in Colorado and New Mexico will clear Thursday, leaving behind a top-up of powder and sunny skies – a perfect blend.
Meanwhile, in the north, a storm moves southwards over Canada on Thursday before reaching the central Sierrras, northern Utah, and Wyoming by the end of Friday. Strong, tepid and humid south-to-southwest winds will spread heavy snowfall down the Coastal Crest, while more moderate snowfall spreads down the Rockies west of the divide and lighter falls on the eastern side. Snow levels will be marginal, so base elevations at many resorts will likely receive wet dense snow or rain.
Also, on Friday, a cold arctic airmass will sneak down over northern B.C. and Alberta with light-moderate snowfall.
Saturday February 1st & Sunday February 2nd
The storm over the north will stall during the weekend, allowing an atmospheric river of warm, humid southwesterlies to develop over the Belly of the US. Temperatures will become a big problem as snow transitions to rain at high elevations across northern California, southern Idaho, northern Utah and Wyoming. Tahoe resorts, in particular, will bear the brunt of the atmospheric river with heavy rain falling close to the tops from late Saturday.
In stark contrast, temperatures north of the atmospheric river will take a big dive as the Arctic airmass sinks further southwards with resorts in B.C., Alberta and Montana, in particular, feeling the chill. The colder, drier airmass will see light-moderate snowfall start to ease from the north.
Monday February 3rd to Wednesday February 5th
The atmospheric river will continue to wreak havoc across the Belly of the US. before finally losing structure and retracting and shifting eastwards later on Wednesday. The Sierras will continue to be worse affected, followed by southern Idaho, southern Montana, and Wyoming, and, to a lesser extent, Utah and Colorado. However, snow levels will creep down during this time, with high-elevation snow gradually dropping to or near base levels.
North of all this, light snowfall will gradually clear B.C. during Monday, and then the Cascades and northern Idaho and Montana on Tuesday as the Arctic airmass dries things out for lovely, cold, clear conditions.
That’s all from me today, folks. Have a great week, and I’ll see you back here next Thursday for another weekly rundown of North America’s highlights and snowlights.
Grasshopper
