Winter's First Storm Is Gaining Steam: Up To 12 Inches of Snow Forecasted

by admin in RSS Social News. Posted October 3, 2025

A compact fall trough drops into the West on Friday, October 3, 2025, then arcs across the northern Rockies through the weekend. It isn’t a blockbuster, but it is the first meaningful, elevation-dependent snow for several ranges, with the best totals centered on Wyoming and far northeast Nevada.

A weaker follow-up wave may clip parts of the Great Basin and northern Rockies early next week. Expect rapidly falling freezing levels, windy passes, and the season’s first slick, icy spots above tree line.

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Bottom Line

Western US snowfall through Tuesday morning.

CA: Sierra crest Trace-2″, localized 2-4″ Mono high passes, 1-2″ Mount Rose. Snow line ~7,500-8,500 ft north, ~9,500-10,000 ft south.
NV: Rubies/East Humboldt 4-9″ above 8.5-9k; western NV high peaks Trace-1″.
UT: Northern ranges 1-5″ above 9k (low chance 8″). Little south of I-70.
CO: High summits Dusting-2″; a stray 3″ possible on the loftiest peaks.
WY: Broad 6-12″ above 8k, locally 12″+ above 10k. Snow line dropping ~6,500 ft, briefly lower north.
ID: Central ranges Trace-2″ above ~8.5-9k; Boise Mountains light coatings near ridge tops; Panhandle quiet until midweek.
MT: Glacier and the Rocky Mountain Front 1-3″ at pass level, 3-6″ on the highest peaks as snow levels dip ~4,500-5,000 ft by Sunday.

If you are heading high, treat this like an early-season alpine storm: variable coverage, thin snow over talus, and fast-changing road conditions above the snow line. The first real reset for ski objectives waits on a deeper, colder wave. For now, Wyoming and the Rubies get a legitimate taste of winter; everyone else mostly gets a tease.

The Setup

A classic early-season cold front sweeps east across Nevada and Utah Friday, then pushes into Wyoming and Montana Saturday. Behind the front, colder west-to-northwest flow favors windward high terrain while lower valleys remain mainly rain or dry.

Guidance agrees on a brief, sharp cool-down, snow levels dropping quickly, and a second, weaker low lingering near the Great Basin Monday-Tuesday that could throw a few more high-elevation showers. Confidence is high on timing and snow levels, moderate on exact totals outside Wyoming.

Snow Levels and Timing

Friday (Oct 3): Sierra snow line falls to roughly 7,500-8,500 ft by morning; 9-10k ft farther south. Scattered showers spread across NV.
Friday night-Saturday: Front crosses UT into western CO, central ID, and WY. Snow lines ~8,500-9,000 ft in UT/CO, ~7,000-7,500 ft central ID by late Sat night, ~6,500-7,500 ft western WY.
Saturday night-Sunday: Coldest air focuses on WY and north-central MT. Snow line ~4,500-6,000 ft near the Rocky Mountain Front by sunrise Sunday.
Mon-Tue (Oct 6-7): Another upper low lingers near the Great Basin with low-confidence, light high-terrain showers.

Regional Snowfall Totals

Storm-ending accumulations through Sunday night, with notes on early-week add-ons. Elevation refers to where accumulation is likely to stick.

California/Sierra Nevada

California snow through Tuesday morning.

Tahoe to northern Sierra: Widely Trace-1 inch above 7,500-8,500 ft by Friday, with 1-2 inches on the Mount Rose high terrain. Spotty and elevation-dependent.
Mono County crest and high passes (Tioga/Sonora):2-4 inches localized where bands persist.
Southern Sierra crest (east side influence): Minor 1-4 inches above ~9,500-10,000 ft.
Takeaway: First cosmetic coating for most peaks, small plowable pockets on the highest crests and passes. Roads below ~7,500 ft stay wet.

Nevada

Ruby Mountains/East Humboldt: The outlier for the Great Basin. Expect 4-9 inches above ~8,500-9,000 ft from Friday night through Saturday, with 3-7 inches likely Friday night and 1-2 inches lingering Saturday. Lower down sees rain or a slushy mix.
Western NV high peaks near Tahoe: Similar to the Sierra side, mostly Trace-1 inch, locally 1-2 inches on the tallest ridges.

Utah

Utah snowfall through Tuesday morning.

Wasatch, Bear River Range, western Uintas:1-5 inches above ~9,000 ft, with a 20% chance at up to 8 inches on favored northwest-flow aspects late Saturday. Roads at or below 8,500 ft mostly wet, but early slick spots possible on the highest seasonal roads.
Central/southern Utah ranges: Largely light or skipped by the deeper moisture.

Colorado

Northern and central mountains (Park, Gore, Tenmile, Sawatch): A dusting to 2 inches common on peaks late Saturday into early Sunday, with a few localized 2-3 inch pockets above ~12,000 ft.
San Juans: Similar story; “couple of inches” possible above passes if a stronger shower band clips the range Saturday night. Do not bank on broad coverage.

Wyoming

Wyoming snowfall through Tuesday morning.

Tetons, Absarokas, Wind River, Bighorns: This is the sweet spot. Widespread 6-12 inches above ~8,000 ft through early Monday, with a ~50% chance for a foot or more above 10,000 ft in favored zones. Snow levels fall to ~6,500 ft Saturday night and could dip to near 5,500 ft for early flurries Sunday in the northern basins. First notable travel impacts on high passes are on the table.

Idaho

Central ranges (Sawtooth, Lost River, Salmon-Challis): Light totals. Expect Trace-2 inches above ~8,500-9,000 ft, with a couple inches possible on the highest summits Saturday into early Sunday. Snow levels may flirt with ~7,000 ft in showers by late Saturday night.
Southwest ID (Boise Mountains): Mostly wet with light, top-of-ridge coatings as snow levels settle near ~7,000-7,500 ft late Saturday.
Panhandle: Quiet through the weekend. A separate midweek wave could bring the first appreciable pass-level snow Wednesday night or Thursday if the deeper northwest low verifies. Confidence is low to medium.

Montana

ID/MT snowfall through Tuesday morning.

Glacier National Park and Rocky Mountain Front: Cooling fast. Light to locally moderate mountain snow with 1-3 inches around pass level and 3-6 inches on the highest peaks between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning as snow levels drop toward ~4,500-5,000 ft.
Southwest MT ranges (Madisons/Beavers, Tobacco Roots, Absarokas near the border): Mostly Trace-2 inches on highest ridges.

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