First Snow of the Season Falls in Mountain West and Upstate New York

By: Becky Kellogg

Published: September 24,2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Winter Park, Colo.

(Courtesy: Winter Park Resort)

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The leaves have barely begun changing colors and pumpkin patches have a long way to go before they yield fall’s most famous crop, but some areas have already welcomed their first snowfall of the season. More snow could be on the way this week.
"We have seen snow at higher elevations of the Adirondack Mountains in New York state as well as parts of the Sierra above 8,000 feet," reported winter weather expert Tom Niziol.
Areas That Have Reported First Flakes of 2013/2014 Season

• Upstate New York
• Colorado mountains
• Montana mountains
• Lake Tahoe mountains
• California’s Mammoth Mountain
• Anchorage Bowl, Alaska

Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colo., reported 2 inches of fresh snow on Sept. 23, 2013 with an estimated 6 inches on the higher peaks. It came well ahead of ski season, which is scheduled to begin in November.
(MORE: 24-Hour Snowfall Forecast)
Mammoth Lakes, Calif., got 2-3 inches of snow in some areas. Ski season begins in early November at Mammoth Mountain.
Upstate New York received a dusting, but it was enough to excite winter weather watchers, including Niziol.
Last weekend's first flakes may be a tease of a bigger event to come. Niziol says significant snow could fall from central Idaho through western Montana including parts of the Bitterroots and Tetons.
“The good news is that below 5,000 feet or so the temperature will be warm enough for a mostly rain event,” Niziol said. “Above 5,000 feet though, as cold air pours across the region during the Wednesday night through Friday morning time frame, snowfall totals of 6 to 10 inches are likely and there is the potential for the highest elevations to receive as much as 18 to 24 inches of snow.”
(MORE: Winter Driving Tips)
Is this early for the season or is it right on time?
"The event we are talking about now is a bit early, especially for the snowfall amounts we expect at the highest elevations," said Niziol. "A foot or more snow anywhere in the U.S. during September is unlikely on average."