628
FOUS11 KWBC 221822
QPFHSD
PROBABILISTIC HEAVY SNOW AND ICING DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
222 PM EDT THU OCT 22 2026
VALID 00Z FRI OCT 23 2026 - 00Z MON OCT 26 2026
..HIGH SIERRA NEVADA
DAY 1...
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TRACKING NORTHEAST FROM CENTRAL NEVADA THIS
EVENING INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LATE TONIGHT IS PRODUCING
PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW ACROSS THE HIGH SIERRA NEVADA. THE DEPARTURE
OF THE LOW WILL RESULT IN TAPERING SNOWFALL RATES, WITH LITTLE
ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION EXPECTED THIS EVENING.
..NORTHERN ROCKIES
DAYS 1-2...
THE LOW CROSSING NEVADA TONIGHT OPENS INTO A NEUTRALLY-TILTED
TROUGH AS IT TRACKS NORTHEAST OVER IDAHO AND MONTANA ON FRIDAY.
WARM AIR ADVECTION AHEAD OF THE LOW BRINGS MODERATE PRECIP RATES,
BUT HIGH SNOW LEVELS OVER 9,000FT AT ONSET FRIDAY MORNING WITH
LEVELS DROPPING TO AROUND 5,500FT FRIDAY AFTERNOON UNDER THE
TROUGH AXIS IN ID/MT (AND STAYING ABOVE 8,000FT THROUGH THE EVENT
IN WYOMING) WILL GREATLY LIMIT THE AREAL COVERAGE OF
SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS TO THE HIGHER SUMMITS . DAY 1 SNOW PROBS
FOR >4" ARE 40-80% FOR HIGHER TERRAIN FROM CENTRAL ID THROUGH
WEST-CENTRAL MT AS WELL AS THE TETONS AND WIND RIVER IN WY. MOST
GUIDANCE HIGHLIGHTS THE BEARTOOTH RANGE IN SOUTHWEST MT WHERE A
FOOT OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE.
..COLORADO
DAYS 1-3...
WARM AIR ADVECTION OVER THE SAN JUANS IN CO BRINGS MODERATE TO
HEAVY PRECIP INTO FRIDAY MORNING. SNOW LEVELS ARE EXCEEDINGLY HIGH,
AROUND 13,000FT TODAY BEFORE DIPPING TO 11,000FT TONIGHT. DAY 1
SNOW PROBS FOR >4" ARE 40-80% FOR THE HIGHEST TERRAIN.
A SHORTWAVE THAT BREAKS OPEN THE LOW OVER THE GREAT BASIN TONIGHT
SWINGS OVER SOUTHERN CA FRIDAY BEFORE STALLING/CLOSING INTO A LOW
OVER THE LOWER CO RIVER FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS LOW THEN TRACKS TO
SOUTHERN UT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. MODERATE PRECIP RATES RETURN
AHEAD OF THE LOW WITH SNOW LEVELS DROPPING TO AROUND 9,500FT WITH
HEIGHT FALLS. DAY 3 SNOW PROBS FOR >4" ARE 60-100% FOR MUCH OF THE
SAN JUANS AND 50-80% FOR THE SAWATCH AND MOSQUITO RANGES IN
CENTRAL CO.
THE PROBABILITY OF SIGNIFICANT ICE ACROSS THE CONUS IS LESS
THAN 10 PERCENT.
WEGMAN
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page