One big storm system hits the Intermountain West then the pattern goes quiet. That big storm then rolls into the Northeast taking a northern track leaving the ski resorts with mostly rain.
A weak El Niño continues in the Equatorial South Pacific. Sea surface temperatures are running warmer than normal. The forecast consensus keeps a weak El Nino engaged into spring 2019.
California Weather
Starting Wednesday the pattern settles down as a large storm system moves away and into the Intermountain West. It could stay dry until Tuesday of next week.
Pacific Northwest Weather
Snow tapers-off on Wednesday then the pattern changes. Storm systems will then be blocked and forced north through the weekend. It's looking dry. There's an outside chance that some minor amounts of moisture get blown in from time to time. The next storm system to possibly break through arrives Tuesday-Wednesday.
Colorado, Utah, New Mexico Weather
This is the place to be for big snow. Heavy snow accumulation on Wednesday in all three states. Snow tapers-off on Thursday. Then the pattern turns drier until the middle of next week. How much accumulation by Thursday morning? A foot in the Wasatch at Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude. 1-2 feet in the Central and Northern Mountains of Colorado including Loveland, Vail, Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park, Eldora, Aspen, Snowmass and Crested Butte. 1-3 feet in the Southern Mountains of Colorado, including Wolf Creek, Telluride, Silverton and Purgatory. 1-2 feet in New Mexico at Taos and Angel Fire. Thursday will be outstanding at all resorts listed above. Friday is also good. Be careful in the backcountry as the risk level will once again go up.
