A long-duration snow event will impact Northwest Wyoming from Wednesday through Friday, bringing significant multi-day snow totals to Jackson Hole and the Tetons. A powerful jet stream will become oriented from northwest to southeast across the region, which will supply the moisture and energy needed to produce heavy snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for all of Teton County from 5 p.m. Wednesday until 11 a.m. Friday. Yellowstone National Park, Star Valley and much of Sublette County are also included in this watch.

 

Light snow will arrive on Wednesday morning and continue off-and-on through the day Wednesday, before picking up a bit on Wednesday night. The heaviest snow will then fall during the day Thursday and into Thursday night, with lighter lingering snow continuing during the first half of the day on Friday.

Total snow amounts from Wednesday morning through midday Friday will range from 12-24 inches (one to two feet) in the Teton Mountains, including Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee Ski Areas, and about 5-10 inches in the Jackson Hole Valley.

Here is a look at the Colorado Avalanche Center’s model-projected snowfall for the Western U.S. through midday Friday. Many ski areas across the West are likely to receive good snow from this storm.

Temperatures will be cold on Wednesday as snow begins with highs in the upper teens in the valley and in the low teens in the mountains at 9,000 feet. Winds will be relatively light on Wednesday as well, from the west/northwest at 10-20 mph in the mountains, and from the southwest at 5-15 mph in the valley. As a result, travel conditions will be more favorable on Wednesday compared to the days to follow.

On Thursday, snow will fall at heavier rates and winds will also be on the increase. Mountain winds will be out of the northwest at 20-30 mph with gusts to 40 mph, while valley winds will be out of the west/southwest at 10-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph.

Temperatures will warm up on Thursday as well, with morning temperatures in the valley rising from the upper teens in the morning into the low 30s by the afternoon while mountain temperatures will warm into the low 20s at 9,000 feet. As a result, the snow that falls on Thursday will become denser compared to Wednesday’s snow. Temperatures will remain mild from Thursday night through midday Friday with valley temperatures ranging from the upper 20s to low 30s.

Snow will taper off Friday afternoon with some possible breaks in the clouds. Temperatures will warm up into the mid 30s in the valley on Friday afternoon, but strong west/northwest winds are expected, resulting in areas of blowing snow.

For skiers and riders, all-day on Thursday and the mornings hours on Friday will offer the best powder conditions, while travelers should expect the most difficult driving conditions to occur on Thursday morning, Thursday evening, and Friday morning.

Here is a look at Tuesday morning’s satellite image. While conditions are clear (and cold) on Tuesday, Pacific moisture from the approaching storm can be seen to the northwest.

 

Alan is a professional meteorologist who holds a degree from MSU Denver and writes weather forecasts for Buckrail. He has lived in Jackson full-time since 2015. He is currently a Meteorologist and Operations Manager for OpenSnow, which is a weather forecasting service for skiing and outdoor adventures. At OpenSnow, Alan writes forecasts for the Tetons, Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and North America as a whole.