Snow to Blanket the West This Weekend; Then, a Potential Northern Plains Snowstorm

Linda Lam
Published: November 25,2016
More snow is poised to blanket much of the mountain West wrapping up the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, then a combination of snow and strong winds may batter parts of the Northern Plains in the new week ahead.
(MORE: Winter Storm Central)
This next round of snow is thanks to a potent southward plunge of the jet stream that will first pivot into the West, then punch east into the central U.S. next week.

Setup in the West this weekend.

This will lay down more snow in some areas that were blanketed with snow from Winter Storm Argos last week.
(MORE: Thanksgiving Travel Forecast)

Western Powder Ahead

Here is a general timeline of impacts expected in the West through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

• Saturday: Snow levels will drop as precipitation spreads southward from Washington, Oregon and northern California to southern California and the Sierra.
   
• Sunday: Snow spreads into the Rockies and Four Corners/Mogollon Rim and tapers off in the Sierra. A separate system brings more snow to the Cascades.

Strong winds are also expected in the Sierra Saturday and in the Rockies and Four Corners Sunday, which, when combined with falling snow, could lead to dangerous travel conditions in the high country, particularly over passes.
(FORECAST: Snoqualmie Pass, Washington | Truckee, California)

Snowfall Forecast

The heaviest accumulations will occur in the Cascades and Siskiyous, where over a foot of snow is likely. That said, many parts of the Rockies will pick up at least 6 inches of snow through Sunday night.
While the high country picks up most of the snow, some lower elevations cities may also see accumulations, including Flagstaff, Arizona, and Salt Lake City.
(MORE: 10 Facts About Snow That Might Surprise You)

Northern Plains Snowstorm Ahead?

A strong low-pressure system is expected to form in the Plains Sunday in response to the jet-stream energy we mentioned surging from the West.
Initially, cold air will be a bit lacking, so precipitation Sunday night and early Monday will start as rain in the Northern Plains before changing over to wet snow, possibly becoming heavy in some parts of the Dakotas.

Monday's Forecast

That gyre of strong, surface low pressure could remain parked in place for several days next week near the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, wringing out areas of snow, heavy at times, around it.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
For now, the heaviest potential snow accumulations appear to be targeting parts of the Dakotas, where over 6 inches of snow is possible through the middle of the week ahead. Light to moderate accumulations are expected elsewhere in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
(FORECAST: Bismarck, North Dakota | Pierre, South Dakota | Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Snowfall Outlook

Strong winds wrapping around this low-pressure gyre in the Northern Plains may produce blizzard conditions in open country, due to blowing and drifting snow, as well as falling snow Monday into Tuesday, or early Wednesday.
(MORE: Yes, There is a Blizzard Alley)
Check back with us at weather.com for the latest updates on this wintry system.
MORE: Winter Storm Argos, November 2016 (PHOTOS)