Early-Season Snow Gives Western Ski Resorts a Welcome Boost

While the central and eastern U.S. sweat it out under unseasonably hot temperatures this week, winter is already raging across the northern Rockies. Significant snow accompanied the frigid temperatures as winter arrived early across the higher terrains of the region. Here is a look at the wintry West.

Snowfall Measured in Feet Recorded in Parts of the Rockies

The moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel is fueling an early onset of winter across portions of the northern Rockies. Heavy snow is falling across much of Montana as the moisture from the former hurricane meets up with a pronounced dip in the jet stream that is sending cold air down from Canada.

While the snow was relegated to the northern portion of the Rockies earlier in the week, the flakes are now forecast to fall across the upper elevations of the mountains in Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado.

The early-season winter storm first dumped 16 inches of snow in Great Falls, Montana, over the weekend. This measurement was good enough to make it the second-snowiest start to a season on record for Great Falls. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the snow total also ranks in ninth place for the city's two-day snowfall record. The snow event was quite the turnaround for a city that saw temperatures in the 80s last week.

Pocatello, Idaho, also saw the flakes fly to start the week when the mercury dropped below the freezing mark on Monday. Heading farther south, Nevada's Lee Canyon picked up measurable accumulation on Monday.

Potent snow bands have impacted the passes and peaks across Utah's Wasatch Range and into Colorado's western and central slopes. The forecast is calling for an additional 8 to 12 inches of snow at elevations over 8,000 feet. Although the heaviest snow has wrapped up, light flurries will continue to add to the wintry landscape.