6+ Inches for the Northern Rockies This Week Ahead of Active December Pattern

"A cold, efficient early-week storm brings light to locally moderate, generally high-quality snow to most Northern Rockies resorts, followed by a brief midweek lull and then a return to a more active, somewhat milder pattern that favors additional mountain snow into next week. New snow from Monday night into Wednesday focuses on the higher terrain of northern Idaho, northwest Montana, southwest Montana, and northwest Wyoming, with low snow levels and mostly dry, chalky snow at elevation."

"The Northern Rockies kick off the week with a cold Monday night through Tuesday system that spreads fresh snow across nearly every mountain in the region. Moisture sliding in on northwest flow overlies modified arctic air in western Montana and north-central Idaho and colder low levels across Wyoming, so snow falls at essentially all elevations rather than splitting into rain at the base and snow up high."

"Winds are occasionally gusty on the higher ridges, especially around southwest Montana and northwest Wyoming, but ease with time as high pressure noses in midweek. Late in the week and into the 614 day window, guidance points toward above-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation for Idaho, western Montana, and Wyoming, suggesting continued storm chances, higher snow levels at times, and good odds of ongoing base building at the mid and upper elevations, especially for high-base resorts."

An efficient cold storm early in the week will produce light to locally moderate, high-quality snow across most Northern Rockies resorts, with the heaviest totals in northern Idaho, northwest Montana, southwest Montana, and northwest Wyoming. Snow levels will be low, producing dry, chalky snow at elevation and snow at most elevations rather than rain in valleys. Higher ridges may experience gusty winds, especially in southwest Montana and northwest Wyoming, easing midweek as high pressure builds. Late-week guidance favors above-normal temperatures and precipitation for Idaho, western Montana, and Wyoming, indicating continued storm chances, occasional higher snow levels, and ongoing base building at mid and upper elevations.

Read at snowbrains.com