A chilly spring trough will drop snow ranges into the 6,000 ft. vary within the Central and Northern Sierra from Friday, April 25, 2025 via Sunday, April 27. The storm will dump as much as a foot-plus of light-to-medium-density powder on the upper-elevation resorts. Farther north and east, the identical system digs into the Northern Rockies Sunday evening–Monday with heavier, wetter flakes, however respectable totals. Backside line: Sierra riders get the choicest turns this weekend, then storm-chasers pivot to southwest Montana and the Tetons for Monday.
Day by day Storm Chasing Forecast
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Photograph: WeatherBell/Powderchasers
Kirkwood and Mt Rose are the perfect open resorts to chase to on Saturday: about 5–7″ of 12–13 SLR fluff. Winds ease after daybreak, so anticipate comfortable, surf-able laps earlier than convective snow showers pop by noon.
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Photograph: WeatherBell/Powderchasers
In a single day convection re-fires, tacking on 4–6″ at Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl, and Palisades. Mixed with Saturday’s leftovers, anticipate silky, rip-able turns within the 5–8″ vary. Mt Rose stays within the dialog with roughly 3–5″ new, colder temps preserving Saturday’s items. Strong closing day!
Monday, April 28, 2025
Photograph: WeatherBell/Powderchasers
Large Sky leads the Northern Rockies with a dense 4–8″ in a single day drop (SLR ~8–9). It’s a “Storm Alert” experience—deep however not blower. For lighter snow and comparable totals, chase Grand Targhee—about 3–6″ at SLR ~9–10 as temperatures tumble via the day.Bridger Bowl and Jackson Gap add a fast 2–4″ refresh, value it in the event you’re in-area however not full-on chase caliber.
Key Factors
Good: Snow ranges crash to ~6k toes within the Sierra Friday evening—each flake sticks.SLR values spike 12–15 within the Sierra: legit blower for late April. Speedy cooling Sunday evening in southwest Montana drops freezing ranges close to 5k toes, bettering Monday’s snow high quality.Dangerous: Gusty southwest winds Friday may shut a number of higher lifts in the course of the change-over. Northern Rockies snow begins moist; density could surf-board relatively than snorkel till temps fall.Wildcards: Convective bands within the Sierra Saturday may jackpot one ridge and skunk the subsequent—anticipate variability. Fashions cut up on simply how rapidly Monday’s Montana storm cools; pass-level snow may over or under-perform by a number of inches.
Regional Particulars
Sierra Nevada (California, Nevada)
Photograph: WeatherBell/Powderchasers
A sharpening trough faucets modest Pacific moisture Friday night whereas a 120-kt jet punches overhead. Snow ranges free-fall from 7–7.5k toes noon Friday to about 6,000 toes by sundown, flipping rain to snow on the higher decks at Sugar Bowl and Palisades. The meat of the occasion arrives late Friday evening via Saturday morning: chilly northwest circulation, orographic elevate, and convective bands wring out 5–10″ (regionally 12″ at wind-favored Kirkwood) at SLRs of 12–14.Showers linger via Saturday afternoon, including one other inch or two earlier than a secondary impulse fires once more Saturday evening. That spherical lays down 4–6″ of 11–13 SLR fluff over the excessive crest—Palisades and Sugar Bowl sit within the candy spot. Totals taper Sunday with remoted squalls (<2″) earlier than ridging arrives Sunday evening. In a single day lows drop into the low 20s at 8,000 toes each weekend nights, locking the brand new snow in place for pristine Sunday turns.
Northern Rockies (SW Montana – Tetons)
Photograph: WeatherBell/Powderchasers
Heat southwest circulation dominates via Sunday—suppose spring corn under 9,000 toes—however a potent closed low barrels in Sunday evening. Because the deformation band stalls alongside the divide, SW Montana from Large Sky to the Bridgers scores 0.8–1.5″ liquid, translating to five–10″ of heavy paste (SLR ~8) in a single day. A buried chilly entrance drags snow ranges all the way down to ~6,000 toes by daybreak Monday, bettering high quality as upslope circulation continues—look for an additional inch or two by midday.Farther south, the Tetons snag much less moisture however colder temps: Grand Targhee lands 3–6″ at SLR ~9–10, whereas Jackson Gap manages 2–3″ however ought to fluff up by noon Monday. Ridge-top winds gust 25–35 mph Sunday evening, easing Monday afternoon because the trough departs.
Prolonged Outlook
Excessive strain builds mid-week, delivering sunny corn-harvest days Tuesday–Thursday earlier than the subsequent Pacific wave hints at a weak warm-snow occasion for the PNW late Friday—keep tuned. Powderchasers is the official forecast channel for POWDER.
