Another Round of Wintry Weather Ahead for West, Plains

Linda Lam
Published: November 24,2016
A stormy pattern will continue in the West through at least the end of November, resulting in locally heavy rain and snow at times.
The unsettled weather pattern is due to a southward dip in the jet stream that is now beginning to nudge its way into the Pacific Northwest and will sweep across the Rockies during the weekend. Eventually, some of this energy may bring snow to sections of the Plains by early next week.

Setup in the West this weekend.

Moderate to heavy snow is expected in parts of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada late this week, including at pass level which could cause travel delays.
(MORE: Thanksgiving Travel Forecast)

Western Snow

A low pressure system will approach the Pacific Northwest, bringing heavy snow to the mountains. Up to a foot of snow will make travel difficult in highway passes in the Cascades. Snow levels will generally be around 3000 feet through Friday in the Washington Cascades.
Moderate to heavy snow is also likely in portions of north-central and northeastern Washington. Otherwise, locally heavy rain will be found in the lower elevations and it will be windy as well, especially along the coast of Washington.

Current Satellite

This system will then slide south and east Friday into the weekend. Snow is expected to begin in the Sierra Nevada mountains late Friday or early Saturday. Snow is expected at pass level, which could bring some travel troubles. Strong winds are also expected in the region on Friday.
(FORECAST: Snoqualmie Pass, Washington | Truckee, California | South Lake Tahoe, California)
Rain is likely in the lower elevations of northern and central California. Showers may reach as far south as southern California this weekend, including Los Angeles and San Diego.
Snow will then develop in the Rockies late Saturday and into Sunday, as this system continues tracking eastward.

Snowfall Forecast

The heaviest snow will be found in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada mountains, where some locations could see up to 2 feet (locally higher) of snow into this weekend.
(MORE: 10 Facts About Snow That Might Surprise You)

Early Week Snow in the Plains

A low pressure system is then expected to form in the Plains on Sunday in response to the energy moving through the West. That low will strengthen as it tracks northeastward through the Midwest into Monday and Tuesday.
Rain and snow will develop in the central U.S. early next week as this system moves into the region.
(FORECAST: Bismarck, North Dakota | Pierre, South Dakota | Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Exactly where snow will fall is uncertain at this time, as it is still a few days away. However, as moisture is drawn northward and encounters colder air, wintry weather will develop. There are some differences in the forecast models as to the track of this system, which will determine where and how much snow falls.
Right now, the area with the greatest chance of accumulating snowfall and gusty winds appears to be the Dakotas.

Monday's Forecast

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
Given this uncertainty in the track and speed of this system, be sure to check back to weather.com for updates.
MORE: Winter Storm Argos, November 2016 (PHOTOS)