An extended period of unsettled weather for California begins Friday, January 31, 2025, bringing increasingly wet and stormy conditions through next week.
Expect two primary rounds of snowfall—one over the weekend, featuring higher snow levels and wet, dense snow, and another colder system starting around Monday night that should bring more widespread coverage of meaningful accumulations to mid and upper elevations. Between these two systems, resorts will end up with fairly staggering totals, likely making this the biggest storm of the season for the region.
Friday–Sunday Warm Surge: Widespread precipitation arrives Friday, with snow levels initially near 5500–6500 feet, rising toward 8000–9000 feet on Saturday. This will lead to moderate to heavy snowfall primarily at higher elevations, while much of the lower terrain sees rain.
Precipitation will be nearly continuous at times, oscillating slightly in coverage and intensity over the weekend. Temperatures should remain relatively mild for mid-winter, and strong southwesterly winds are likely, with gusty conditions along exposed terrain. As we move into Sunday, snow levels gradually settle closer to 6500–7500 feet. Below is the ECMWF 700mb wind forecast on Friday night:
Monday Night–Midweek Colder Storm: A second, colder wave sets up during the Monday night timeframe and continues into midweek. Snow levels should trend lower—potentially dipping to around 5000–6000 feet by Wednesday or Thursday—allowing more ski areas, even lower-mountain zones, to pick up heavier accumulations. Periods of intense snowfall are possible as colder air filters in, delivering a fluffier snow quality than the weekend system. Winds could still be gusty at upper elevations, although the strongest jet energy looks to gradually shift southward.
Extended Outlook: Guidance suggests the storm track could remain active beyond midweek, with above-average precipitation and below-normal temperatures favored heading into early February. This pattern hints at further snow chances if moisture continues funneling inland. Prepare for evolving conditions, as the broader atmospheric setup could keep snow showers and unsettled weather in place well into next weekend. Stay tuned for updated forecasts evaluating the upcoming pattern beyond next week.
Below are anticipated mid-mountain totals for the next 7 days. Keep in mind there is still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast, especially for the midweek storm that rolls in on Monday night. Additionally, especially for the weekend storm, totals will be highly elevation-dependent, meaning lower-mountain elevations will likely see far less snow than is forecasted below:
Sugar Bowl: 56–95″
Kirkwood: 52–88”
Palisades Tahoe: 50–85”
Mammoth Mountain: 30–52”
Northstar: 26–47”
Heavenly: 26–45”
Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Nevada: 23–40”
Related: The Calm Before the Storm: Palisades Tahoe Prepares for 6 Feet of Snow
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