Intermountain West

[MillzPirate]

I noticed there isn't a lot of traffic on here for the Intermountain Region. However, looks like next week/weekend a blume of Pacific moisture could really open up over the northern Rockies with some heavy snow. Any mets have a take on this?

[Southland Wx]

This is going to be interesting to watch. Both the GFS/Euro are on board with this plume/140 kt jet into California next weekend...the pattern has almost El Nino-ish qualities to it. I do think ultimately, the bulk of the moisture will end up directed into Central CA/C&N NV/UT, but if the models verbatim are correct today, it definitely could be further south. Also a warm pattern, so the southern areas are going to have p-type issues at high elevations...even could be an issue in the Sierra depending on how things align. Intermountain region probably does well in this pattern though.

[baroclinic_instability]

Moisture will be there but the snow levels will be real high too.

[baroclinic_instability]

This is going to be interesting to watch. Both the GFS/Euro are on board with this plume/140 kt jet into California next weekend...the pattern has almost El Nino-ish qualities to it. I do think ultimately, the bulk of the moisture will end up directed into Central CA/C&N NV/UT, but if the models verbatim are correct today, it definitely could be further south. Also a warm pattern, so the southern areas are going to have p-type issues at high elevations...even could be an issue in the Sierra depending on how things align. Intermountain region probably does well in this pattern though.

Yeah agree, nothing great with the snow levels. Could see some funky stuff in some of the deep valleys where the cold air can't mix out, especially since the flow won't be all that great. Uinta Basin in UT a good example of that issue.

Looks like a mountain event the way it is now. SLC will see a nice rain.

[aslkahuna]

Actually, this type of pattern is not really an El Niño one. The most extreme example occurring in 1955 during the Christmas period resulting in the worst floods in Central and Northern CA since 1861-62. I've been in these types of warm patterns in the Intermountain West and they can result in a lot of freezing rain. In the PAC NW when cold air is overrun by the pineapples they call the result the Silver Thaw.

Steve