What a week!

TL;DR:

Cold and clear. We are now in Steenburgh Winter! Inversions and fog likely over the next week. More active weather possible in the later half of next week.

Nowcast:

An amazing week comes to a close. I hope y’all got up in the mountains for some delicious pow. We are now in what is known as Steenburgh Winter, as the snow depth at Alta-Collins reached 100”. For further discussion of Steenburgh Winter, check out Jim Steenburgh’s blog linked in the side-bar. It will be cold in the mountains today and likely for the rest of the weekend, with highs around 15F and lows near 0F. Ridge gusts not exceeding 40 mph. Skies will be mostly clear.

 

Alta-Collins snow depth from NWS

Short term:

With the large trough exiting the region, we enter a more stable ridging pattern. With the remaining snowpack, chances of fog and inversions are higher. Temperatures are expected to be well below normal (15F below average for this time) with gradual increases back to normal up until late next week.

 

Long term:

Temperature inversions are likely in the long term range as temperatures gradually return to normal. A Pacific Northwest ridge is making its way into the region on Wednesday, bringing northwesterly flow. The exact location of the ridge is uncertain currently. Uncertainty in the long-range increases towards the end of the week with models diverging.

 

Satellite imagery from SSEC this morning showing the Near-IR - "Snow/Ice" (1.6 µm) band

Backcountry comments:

 

If you will be traveling in the backcountry make sure you have the proper equipment and know before you go. For the whole avalanche forecast and all things avalanche head over to our friends at the Utah Avalanche Center.