Snowy Week Ahead for Parts of the Rockies, Including Colorado (FORECAST)

Quincy Vagell
Published: March 27,2016
The recent snowy pattern shows no signs of stopping in the week ahead across the Rockies and parts of the northern Plains, as another system targets the region with a prolonged period of snow.
This snow isn’t anything unusual, considering that March is typically the snowiest month of the season for much of the Rockies, particularly portions of Colorado and Wyoming.
(MORE: Where is March the Snowiest?)
A brief break in the action was seen on Sunday, but now a southward dip in the jet stream will make way for a slow-moving storm system for much of the upcoming week.

This multi-day event will affect a large portion of the central and western United States, from the Sierra across the Intermountain West, Rockies, parts of the northern Plains and possibly the Upper Midwest.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches, winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories for parts of several states from Montana to Utah and Nevada.

Winter Weather Alerts

Unlike Winter Storm Selene, however, this upcoming event is not expected to bury the immediate Denver area with copious amounts of snow.

Storm Impacts

• Over a foot of snow possible: The higher elevations of the central and northern Rockies from Colorado and Wyoming into southern Montana. Locally, over a foot is possible in parts of northern Utah as well.
• At least 6 inches of snow possible: Parts of the Sierra, much of the Intermountain West from Nevada to western and northern Utah into southern Idaho. Portions of the northern High Plains in eastern Wyoming, the Nebraska panhandle and possibly the Black Hills of South Dakota.
  Cities: Billings | Casper
• Less than 6 inches of snow expected: The central High Plains from eastern Colorado into portions of western Nebraska. Parts of the western Dakotas and far northern New Mexico should expect generally light snowfall amounts. Some light snow may also extend east into Minnesota and northern Wisconsin by the middle of the week.
  Cities: Reno | Salt Lake City | Denver | Rapid City | Duluth, Minnesota
• Power Outages, Tree Damage Possible: Parts of the Rockies and adjacent High Plains could see power outages and tree damage due to the heavy, wet nature of the snow.

Total Snowfall Forecast Through Thursday

Below is a daily breakdown of how the forecast is setting up.

Monday: Storm Begins to Develop

Low pressure begins to take shape over the Great Basin. As colder air dives southward, snow levels begin to fall, causing rain to change to snow over parts of Nevada and northern Utah. This snow will become locally heavy, with snow also piling up across the Sierra.

Monday's Forecast

Generally light snow or a mixture of rain and snow falls across parts of Utah, western Montana and western Wyoming.
Ahead of the storm, mild conditions prevail, with much of Colorado seeing high temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Much like the setup leading up to Winter Storm Serene, don’t expect this to last.
Strong winds will develop in the Southwest, where gusts over 70 mph are possible in parts of southeast California, southern Nevada (including Las Vegas), and northwest Arizona. The National Weather Service has issued high wind warnings and advisories for this area.
Cities: Reno | Salt Lake City | Colorado Springs

Tuesday: Snow Overspreads Rockies

Snow shifts east across the northern Rockies, with the heaviest snowfall targeting the higher elevations of Wyoming. Most of the snow across the Northwest and California will come to an end early Tuesday.

Tuesday's Forecast

Snow continues through the day over parts of northeast Nevada, Utah and southern Idaho. A mixture of snow and rain is expected at Salt Lake City, with more significant accumulation in the higher terrain.
While snow is first confined to the highest elevations in Colorado on Tuesday, colder air eases in, gradually lowering snow levels. High temperatures reach the 60s again across the Front Range, but temperatures will drop off quickly into Tuesday night statewide.
Cities: Elko | Twin Falls, Idaho | Billings

Wednesday-Thursday: Snow Continues

As low pressure ejects into the Plains on Wednesday, colder air will continue to sink south across the Rockies and High Plains.
Rain is expected to mix with and change to snow in parts of the Denver metro area, while heavy snow remains possible over much of the central Rockies from Colorado to Wyoming.

Wednesday's Forecast

Snow gradually tapers off over the Intermountain West, while some wet snow could possibly fall as far south as far northern New Mexico.
Cities: Cheyenne | Denver | Scottsbluff
Through the day on Wednesday, rain initially overspreads the northern Plains, but that rain is forecast to change to snow from west to east across the High Plains of the western Dakotas. Some wet snow could also fall and accumulate in the panhandle of Nebraska.
Into Thursday, as the low moves into the Upper Midwest, snow should taper off across the Rockies and High Plains. Details are unclear at this time, but some light snow or a mixture of rain and snow could reach parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
PHOTOS: Winter Storm Selene