Significant snowfall in the Rockies as cold front hits Intermountain West
A strong cold front is moving across the Intermountain West, bringing widespread mountain snow to the Rockies and cooler temperatures beginning Friday, October 18, 2024.
Image credit: NOAA/GOES-East, Zoom Earth, The Watchers. Acquired at 11:00 UTC on October 18, 2024
“A weather pattern change is progressing across the Western U.S., as an amplified upper trough supports the passage of a strong cold front across the Intermountain West,” NWS meteorologist Hamrick noted on Friday, October 18.
This will result in extensive mountain snow over the higher elevations of the Rockies on Friday, persisting into Saturday, October 19 across the mountainous terrain of the Four Corners region as an upper-level low develops.
There is potential for 25 – 51 cm (10 – 20 inches) of snow across portions of Utah and Colorado, primarily above 2 740 m (9 000 feet) elevation.
Temperatures will significantly turn colder compared to the recent warm weather experienced by most of the Western U.S. earlier this month. Daytime highs will only reach 4 – 10 °C (40s – 50s °F) for most valley locations through the end of the work week and into Saturday, with temperatures dropping below freezing at night.
As the upper-level low develops over Arizona, a plume of increased moisture advection will spread across eastern New Mexico and portions of nearby states, likely resulting in enhanced rainfall heading into Saturday.
The WPC’s outlook for this region currently depicts a slight risk of excessive rainfall. The potential exists for 50 – 100 mm (2 – 4 inches) of rainfall, which could result in localized flooding. Strong to severe thunderstorms are also possible.
Another area of increased rainfall will occur in western Washington, where an atmospheric river event is likely to reach Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula, potentially resulting in a few inches of rain across windward terrain.
References:
1 Short Range Forecast Discussion – NWS/WPC – October 18, 2024
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