Mountain West Discussion

[Front Ranger]

Some serious torching the next couple days with highs in mid 60s forecast here. Outside shot we could challenge the record of 68 on Thursday, set in 1990. Of course, later that December...

[Black Hole]

Yeah Thursday isn't looking too good. Looks like Sunday afternoon and Monday will be a bit better. I'm flying on Tuesday so I bet you guys get interesting weather after that.

I think we will see some light accumulations tomorrow night. 

 

We could see snow showers Friday-Sat, again on Sunday AM if warm advection snow develops, and again Monday with the front. 

[Front Ranger]

Some serious torching the next couple days with highs in mid 60s forecast here. Outside shot we could challenge the record of 68 on Thursday, set in 1990. Of course, later that December...

 

As it turned out, DEN fell well short of the record today, but set one yesterday with a high of 69.

 

Very warm, but nothing close to unprecedented, as about half the days in December have a record of 70+, with the warmest December day on record being 12/27/80 with a high of 75.

[Snowman5678]

The models are kind of going all out for this storm Sunday night- Tuesday AM in Salt Lake.
Totals based on the most recent models:
GFS: 10"

WRF-GFS: 8"
ECMWF: 12"
ECMWF Parallel: 7" 
NAM: 6-8"
MM5-NAM: 4-6"

The NWS grid forecast for me has a total of 8-16".

[Front Ranger]

The models are kind of going all out for this storm Sunday night- Tuesday AM in Salt Lake.

Totals based on the most recent models:

GFS: 10"

WRF-GFS: 8"

ECMWF: 12"

ECMWF Parallel: 7"

NAM: 6-8"

MM5-NAM: 4-6"

 

The NWS grid forecast for me has a total of 8-16".

Nice! About time you guys score. Got 2" here today.

[Black Hole]

Watch will be upgraded to a warning soon for 4-8" valleys, more on the hills. 

[Snowman5678]

Looks lie this will be the most snow I have seen since 2012! I'm excited! I'll probably wake up a few times in the middle of the night cause i'll be so happy about the snow, haha!

[Black Hole]

Looks lie this will be the most snow I have seen since 2012! I'm excited! I'll probably wake up a few times in the middle of the night cause i'll be so happy about the snow, haha!

Should see it really dump overnight. I think we will see light snow or perhaps a break for a few hours during the late morning. All indications are that it picks back up for the overnight hours. If it fails to materialize as well as we hope I still can't see us getting less than about 3-4", but if it goes as planned no reason we couldn't see a whole lot more. 

[Snowman5678]

Should see it really dump overnight. I think we will see light snow or perhaps a break for a few hours during the late morning. All indications are that it picks back up for the overnight hours. If it fails to materialize as well as we hope I still can't see us getting less than about 3-4", but if it goes as planned no reason we couldn't see a whole lot more. 

Yeah even if something goes really wrong it should still be decent. 

[Black Hole]

I've picked up 1" so far and its dumping. Can't wait to see how much we wake up with. 

[Black Hole]

I have 10.5" so far and its going to snow all day. This will be one for the record books. 

[Front Ranger]

I have 10.5" so far and its going to snow all day. This will be one for the record books.

Awesome! Far better than any storm I've seen this year. Expecting 2-4" tonight/tomorrow.

[Black Hole]

Awesome! Far better than any storm I've seen this year. Expecting 2-4" tonight/tomorrow.

One thing we really lack around here is big snow storms, it's fun to finally see one. Still snowing hard. Definitely a foot or more by now by the look of things. 

[BLI snowman]

One thing we really lack around here is big snow storms, it's fun to finally see one. Still snowing hard. Definitely a foot or more by now by the look of things. 

 

Could see close to 20" on the ground by the time this is said and done. Near all time record levels for a lot of the Wasatch Front.

[Dan the Weatherman]

I have 10.5" so far and its going to snow all day. This will be one for the record books. 

 

I am glad to see that your area finally got a good snow storm! Mike Seidel was reporting live from the Salt Lake City area this afternoon which shows how significant this storm was, as TWC reporters most often report live from the Midwest on eastward. TWC's winter weather expert Tom Niziol mentioned that this was the first significant storm in nearly two years, as last year was really a bust for the ski resorts in the Wasatch Range.

[Front Ranger]

NWS just upgraded winter weather advisory to winter storm warning here. Now saying 5-10" by tomorrow afternoon.

[Black Hole]

Could see close to 20" on the ground by the time this is said and done. Near all time record levels for a lot of the Wasatch Front.

I have 18" now and its still snowing at a good clip. Probably will pick up another couple inches over night, although I think I will be shy of 2 feet. 

[Black Hole]

I am glad to see that your area finally got a good snow storm! Mike Seidel was reporting live from the Salt Lake City area this afternoon which shows how significant this storm was, as TWC reporters most often report live from the Midwest on eastward. TWC's winter weather expert Tom Niziol mentioned that this was the first significant storm in nearly two years, as last year was really a bust for the ski resorts in the Wasatch Range.

We had a decent one on April 15th of all times, but for a real winter storm it's sure been a while. Nice to see!

[Dan the Weatherman]

We had a decent one on April 15th of all times, but for a real winter storm it's sure been a while. Nice to see!

 

Hopefully this is a sign of more good things to come for this upcoming winter season!

[Front Ranger]

I have 18" now and its still snowing at a good clip. Probably will pick up another couple inches over night, although I think I will be shy of 2 feet. 

 

Awesome. Does SLC suck at measuring snow? Or just way different because of location? Looks like they've gotten less than half that.

[BLI snowman]

Awesome. Does SLC suck at measuring snow? Or just way different because of location? Looks like they've gotten less than half that.

 

I reckon they're certainly going to be a little drier due to being further west. Earlier today Bountiful was reporting 18" while SLC was at 6" maybe 8 miles away. 

[Front Ranger]

Very heavy snow early this morning here has tapered off a bit. Have about 7", though the wind is blowing it around so much it's hard to say exactly.

[Front Ranger]

Ended up with 9-10". Roads were about as bad as they get around here today, since the snow fell so fast early this morning when no one was on them and before the plows could get to them, and then the wind kept blowing more snow on them.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

My flight into Denver is delayed right now. Was supposed to depart at 730p, now saying around 1230am.

[Front Ranger]

My flight into Denver is delayed right now. Was supposed to depart at 730p, now saying around 1230am.

 

Yeah, I heard a ton of flights were delayed. Sucks.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Yeah, I heard a ton of flights were delayed. Sucks.

 

Yeah, not supposed to leave PDX til 1am now. Fortunately I had a very long layer so as long as I make it there, I should make my connecting flight. 

[Black Hole]

Awesome. Does SLC suck at measuring snow? Or just way different because of location? Looks like they've gotten less than half that.

They just get a lot less. They are low elevation and so they get relatively little benefit from orographic lift like I do. Bountiful does really well with WNW flow as well. The concavity in the mountain really wrings moisture out. We haven't lost any snow yet since its been cold. Another 2-4" will probably fall tonight. 

I will be heading down to Texas for about 2 weeks on Friday so I hope my snowpack keeps on growing while I am gone. 

[Phil]

I have 18" now and its still snowing at a good clip. Probably will pick up another couple inches over night, although I think I will be shy of 2 feet.

Congrats! How much did you end up with? Been watching ski cams out there to get my snow fix.

 

I'm pretty d**n jealous, honestly.

[Front Ranger]

DEN already down to 4 after a high of 20. Warm anomalies taking a beating.

[Black Hole]

I am away in Texas right now. But lots of rain and snow the next few days in SLC. Looks cold and snowy for Christmas. 

[Black Hole]

Best I can tell from webcams...but probably 2-3" fell last night at my place. 

[Front Ranger]

Lots of snow still on the ground here from the big storm a week ago, despite several days in the 40s and 50s since then. Gotta love December sun angle.

 

Starting tomorrow, looks like it will be chilly around here for awhile.

[Black Hole]

Another 2-3" fell in Bountiful and about 7" at my old place in west valley. Nothing is melting so it will all be there when I get back. 

[Front Ranger]

3" last night, about 6" in the shade. With the continued cold temps, this month will likely end up near normal and with snow cover most the month.

[Front Ranger]

Working on quite a streak of sub-freezing days. Should reach at least 7. Also have had 2 straight weeks of snow cover.

[Front Ranger]

DEN has not been above 26 since the 24th and will finish the month below normal.

[Black Hole]

Inverted conditions locked in here. Perhaps a little snow or ZR a few days this week but nothing real exciting. No thaw coming though. 

[Front Ranger]

Looks like at least 1/3 of the West finished December below normal. Quite a turnaround second half of the month.

 

 

[Black Hole]

Looks like at least 1/3 of the West finished December below normal. Quite a turnaround second half of the month.

 

Dec15TDeptNWSWR.png

I thought we would have been below normal but I guess just too much torching the first half of the month. We've been chilly the last few days but nothing unusual so I would guess we are near normal for January so far. 

[Front Ranger]

I've had snow cover since Dec 14, and it will last awhile longer as we're expected to get 2-4" tomorrow. Then it turns cold again.

 

Probably a major thaw coming next week, though.