April Fool’s Day Storm

Wow – what just hit us? Here’s a summary of the key indicators I was watching leading up to this storm. Never stop learning and watching the weather to better understand what’s happening here, around us and why.

The PNA started hinting at weather system brewing back on Mar 13 with sharp decrease and biggest drop since last Nov storm. A Buoy Pop was also marked on my calendar from around same time. Always nice to see in agreement of indicators two weeks out.

Here’s current PNA which shows the Apr 1 drop, then going positive which means return to high pressure in early April.

Severe Weather Europe from Mar 31 provides a good explanation, just need to read between the Ads. They summarize the springtime battle between winter and summer patterns fighting for the lead. This probably led to the isolated weather pattern and intense storm with 10” falling at Brundage and a couple at Bogus Monday morning followed 24 hours later with 10” at Bogus while Tamarack & Brundage received a little Tuesday morning. OpenSnow forecast weather radar nailed storm hitting Bogus early Tuesday morning and not pushing north. I should have been watching the radar loop for Brundage storm. https://www.severe-weather.eu/global-weather/april-2025-forecast-stratospheric-polar-vortex-impact-cold-air-united-states-canada-fa/

Severe Weather also provides a good summary of early April weather and why we’re gonna be warm & dry in the West and the East needs to prepare for colder and wet. Many other models are picking up intensity of this event now. Stay safe.

Spring skiing returns this weekend to Idaho’s southern resorts with freezing night temps and warm day temps. Enjoy while the nights are still freezing in the mountains.

This also means the rivers will rebound with the warmer temps. Be safe out there – a friend is on a solo trip down the Main Salmon this week.

Bogus Rocks & Cold is good !!

Updated graph Jan 2 with Dec 30 Snow Depth measurement value of 58” for the long-term snow course at the Showcase Marker. This winter is off to the best start since 2011 and in the top 5 highest years since daily snow depth measurements start in 2000.

Compared to historic Jan 1 data, that starts in 1944, this year is tied for 5th for the most snow on the ground for the Jan 1 snow survey. Other high years were 1997, 1984, 1972,and 1952.

Storms are still expected but smaller in size compared to recent ones. Winter like temps finally arrive as cold temps dip into mid-West in mid-Jan.

Lots going on with the Polar Vortex stretching and pulling, and lots to learn about Greenland’s weather impacts on our weather. We know we are in for a colder ride between now and mid-Jan, especially in the Mid-west. Here are Judah’s thoughts for the 3rd week of Jan. Stay tuned as lots gong on 3rd week of Jan along with my birthday !

“So, during the third week of January this will result in a transition to milder weather in both Europe and the Eastern US with cold weather becoming more entrenched in the Western US.  But it also appears Siberia will turn colder at this time, so I don’t think winter weather in the Eastern US is done just yet like last winter.” http://www.judahcohen.org/