A vigorous frontal system and associated low center will cross the Northwest today, bringing substantial precipitation everywhere and several feet of snow to most of the Cascades.
Let me show you some of the UW WRF model runs for the next few days. You will be greasing your skis before I am done!
The snowfall for the 24h ending 4 AM Wednesday, shows bountiful snow (1-2 ft) over the Cascades above 4000 ft from southern BC to the CA border. With cool air pushing through the Fraser River Valley, Bellingham and the San Juans get some white stuff as well.
Here is a closer view of the 72h snowfall ending Thursday at 4 AM. Nearly 3 ft will fall over higher terrain (remember snow depth will be less!) and the mountains surrounding the Columbia Basin will get snow as well.
After the Tuesday snowfall/precipitation event the spigot will turn off as ANOTHER ridge of high pressure develops over the eastern Pacific. Here is the upper level (500 hPa) map for 1 AM Thursday. A ridge offshore will keep us dry.
And by Sunday morning at 8 AM, the ridge strengthens, with high pressure up and down the West Coast. So there should be some amazing skiing for few days Thursday through Saturday at least).
One final caution. The system today will bring windy conditions (gust above 40 mph in some locations) and the snow level should drop \ to around 500 ft Tuesday night--so snow showers are possible on hills and higher elevations.
