Welcome to your first Snow Report of the new year. I truly hope your holiday season has been fun, festive and full of great days on snow. We’ve been hitting the mountain as a family every weekend and it’s been great to see the little guys learning and growing with each outing.
Our buddies at OpenSnow sent over some information about this weekend’s forecast and there are a few notable moments to get excited about.
Why “Quietly Good” Can Be Better Than Viral
One of the hardest parts of snow reporting is managing expectations.
Not every good ski week comes with a three foot storm total, road closures, and viral screenshots. Some of the best skiing happens in quieter patterns that never really trend, but just keep delivering day after day.
This week is a great example of that.
Let’s break it down by region, starting with what’s ahead this weekend and then looking into next week, with a little context on what this actually means for your skiing.
Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Coastal BC)
The Pacific Northwest is locked into what I like to call a “light snow is better than no snow” pattern.
This is not one major storm rolling through and shutting everything down. Instead, it is a steady parade of lighter systems bringing frequent refreshers, especially at higher elevations.
This weekend: Light snow continues across Washington, Oregon, and coastal British Columbia. Totals are modest, but consistent.
What this means on snow: This kind of pattern keeps terrain skiing well without the chaos that comes with big storms. Fewer wind holds, fewer road closures, and snow that stays soft longer because it is refreshed regularly.
Looking ahead: This steady pattern looks like it sticks around into next week, with more small systems rather than a single dramatic reset.
Central Canada (Interior BC and Canadian Rockies)
Central Canada is in a calmer window right now, but colder temperatures are doing a lot of work behind the scenes.
This weekend: Mostly light snow or dry periods, paired with cold temperatures that help preserve existing snowpack.
Looking ahead: Snow chances increase again mid week as the storm track nudges north. Not flashy, not concerning. Just steady and skiable.
Sierra Nevada (California)
The Sierra is one of the few regions this weekend where expectations should be set higher.
This weekend: A stronger storm arrives Saturday into Sunday, with several resorts looking at multiple feet of snow, especially at upper elevations.
What this means: This is a legitimate reset storm. Travel impacts are likely at times, but snow quality improves significantly once the storm clears.
Looking ahead: Snow tapers off early next week, with colder temperatures helping to preserve what falls this weekend.
Rockies (Utah, Wyoming, Colorado)
The Rockies continue to benefit from one of the most productive types of winter patterns.
This weekend: Widespread snow across Utah and Wyoming, with favored areas picking up roughly 10 to 30 inches by the end of the weekend.
Why this works: Snow arrives in manageable waves. Winds stay relatively controlled. Terrain keeps opening instead of closing.
Looking ahead: Snow lingers into early next week before things quiet down. This is the kind of stretch where conditions quietly improve every single day.
Midwest
The Midwest sneaks into a better window late this weekend.
This weekend: Light snow through Saturday, followed by a more organized system Sunday into Monday.
Looking ahead: Another snow chance early next week depending on storm track. Not a powder chase, but definitely movement in the right direction.
The East (New England and Mid Atlantic)
New England
This weekend: Cold and mostly dry. Snowmaking conditions remain solid.
Looking ahead: A brief window for light snow early next week, followed by a warmer pattern mid week that could slow momentum.
This is a holding pattern. No major gains, but no major losses either.
Mid-Atlantic
This weekend: Lake effect snow continues in favored areas, with several inches possible where bands linger.
Looking ahead: Warmer and drier conditions take over, limiting snow chances.
Quietly Good vs Viral Storms
There is nothing wrong with loving a big storm. They are exciting, dramatic, and they make great content.
But some of the best skiing of a season often comes from quieter patterns like we are seeing in places like the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies right now.
Light snow every couple of days. Cold temperatures. Less wind. Fewer lift holds. Fewer road closures. Viral storms look great online. Quiet patterns often ski better in real life. That is the difference between chasing headlines and actually enjoying more laps.
Get out there and have some fun,Halley
