Powder Alert—18+ Inches of Snow Forecasted Across the West

A two-part October pattern is lining up to paint the high country white from the Cascades to the Northern Rockies this weekend, then slide the focus to the Sierra early next week.

First comes a cool, showery closed low drifting onshore into the Pacific Northwest, followed Sunday, October 12, 2025, by a punchier trough dropping out of British Columbia that drags snow levels down hard. Early next week, that energy sags into California, where a colder, wetter system targets the Sierra with the best shot of double-digit totals so far this fall.

Expect a wet start, then a colder finish, with denser snow early giving way to healthier ratios in the colder air on the backside.

Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.

Timing

• Fri Oct 10–Sat Oct 11: Showery, gradually cooler, snow confined high on the volcanoes and crest.
• Sun Oct 12–Mon Oct 13: Colder trough drops in. Snow levels fall to near 3–4k ft in the northern WA Cascades, 4–5k ft farther south. Northern Rockies turn on with accumulating mountain snow; some NW Montana valleys briefly flirt with wet snow Monday morning.
• Mon night Oct 13–Thu Oct 16: The colder, wetter system slides down the West Coast. Sierra Nevada becomes the main event with widespread mountain snow, especially Mon night through Wed.

Regional Snowfall Forecasts

Washington Cascades

• North Cascades (Washington/Rainy Pass vicinity, 5,000–7,000 ft): 6–12 inches Sunday afternoon through Monday, spot highs to 14 inches on favored west-facing terrain. Snow level 3–4k ft by daybreak Monday.
• Central Cascades: Stevens Pass3–7 inches; Snoqualmie Pass mainly a rain/snow mix with 0–1″ slush at best during the coldest hours. Above 5,500 ft on Chair and Summit ridgelines, 4–8 inches.
• Mount Baker high terrain (≥6,000 ft): 8–14 inches with localized higher pockets along the crest.

Oregon Cascades

• North/Central OR Cascades (Mt. Hood, Three Sisters): 3–6 inches above 5,000 ft late Sunday through Monday; trace–2 inches near the passes. Peak ridgetops could stretch to 6–8 inches if banding lingers. Snow level generally 4.5–5.5k ft Sunday night–Monday.
• Southern OR Cascades/Siskiyous: Periods of rain/snow with 1–4 inches above ~5,500–6,000 ft between late Saturday and Monday, locally more on the highest shoulders near Crater/Diamond Lake.

Idaho

• North Idaho Panhandle & Central Panhandle Mountains (Schweitzer, Lookout Pass region): 4–10 inches above ~5,000 ft Sunday afternoon through early Monday; Lookout Pass itself most likely 1–3 inches with only a small chance of  over 4″.
• Central Idaho ranges (Salmon River, Lemhi/Sawtooths): Cooling Sunday with 3–7 inches above ~6,500–7,000 ft. Lower benches see wet flakes with little stickage.

Montana

• NW Montana (Glacier, Whitefish, Cabinets, Mission/Swan): This is the bull’s-eye. 10–18 inches above ~5,000 ft Sunday night through Monday, 6–12 inches down to ~4,000 ft. There is model support for >6 inches above 4,000 ft and >12 inches above 5,000 ft in the West Glacier corridor, including Logan/Marias Pass.
• SW Montana (Bitterroot/Sapphire/Anaconda-Pintlar): 6–12 inches above 5,000 ft late Saturday night through Monday morning; lower elevation roadways trend slushy mainly at night/morning.

Wyoming

• Tetons, Gros Ventre, Yellowstone S. Plateau: 5–9 inches above 8,000 ft Saturday night into Sunday; 2–5 inches 7–8k ft. A brief dusting to 1 inch is possible in the Jackson/Star valleys very early Sunday if the frontal band over-performs. Snow levels crash from ~10k ft to below 6k ft in a few hours overnight.

Utah

• Northern Wasatch/Uintas: Behind Saturday’s front, minor to locally moderate accumulations at the highest elevations. Plan on 2–6 inches above ~8,500–9,000 ft Saturday night through early Sunday, with 0–2 inches near 7–8k ft. Snow levels settle toward ~6,000 ft for a time on Sunday.

California

• Tahoe–Northern Sierra (Mon night–Wed): 6–12 inches above ~7,000 ft, 3–7 inches down to ~6,000 ft, with a colder, wetter core likely Tuesday. Upside if the low stalls a touch longer.
• Central/Southern Sierra (Yosemite–Mammoth–Kern crest): Highest confidence zone. Expect 8–16 inches above ~7,000 ft, with localized 18″+ above 9,000 ft between Monday evening and Thursday afternoon as the cold core and moisture plume overlap. Ensemble modeling is showing a 50–80% chance of ≥12″ above ~6,500 ft in this window.

Bottom Line

• Best storm for photos and early-season stoke:Glacier Country and adjacent NW Montana ranges Sunday night–Monday.
• Sneaky good:North Cascades crest zones into Monday.
• Respectable refresh:Tetons Saturday night–Sunday; Wasatch high peaks get a modest coat.
• Next big headline:Sierra Nevada Monday night–Wednesday, with widespread 6–12″ above 7k and localized 18″+ at the highest elevations in the central/southern range if the colder core lingers.

As is common with early winter storms, ground temps and October sun angle matter below treeline, but if you’ve been waiting for real snow to show up on the ridgelines, this is the switch flip.

Related: La Niña Has Officially Returned: What It Might Mean for Winter Weather