Atmospheric River Snow Forecast—Whistler Is Expecting Deep Snowfall Totals
A potent Atmospheric River is slamming into the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, delivering impressive moisture totals, but bringing a “Pineapple Express” flavor with rising snow levels.
The clear winners in this forecast are the ski resorts in British Columbia (Whistler, Revelstoke, Banff Sunshine), where colder air will maintain high-quality powder production throughout the week.
Further south in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, snow levels will fluctuate violently, initially burying high elevations before spiking to 7,000–8,000 feet mid-week, creating significant rain-on-snow risks for lower mountain bases. However, a cold front arrives just in time for Friday, setting up a potential sleeper powder day in Montana—specifically for Bridger Bowl’s opening day.
Keep reading for more on the season’s first major atmospheric river. Daily forecast included through Saturday, December 13, 2025.
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Notable Ski Resort Snowfall Totals Through Saturday, December 13, 2025
- Whistler, BC: 20–32 inches
- Revelstoke, BC: 19–29 inches
- Banff Sunshine, AB: 15–23 inches
- Mt. Baker, WA: 13–19 inches
- Stevens Pass, WA: 12–18 inches
- Whitefish Mountain, MT: 9–13 inches
- Bridger Bowl, MT: 7–11 inches
- Jackson Hole, WY: 7–10 inches
- Brundage, ID: 7–9 inches
- Grand Targhee, WY: 6–9 inches
Powderchasers/WeatherBell
The Good, The Bad, The Wildcards
The Good
A persistent feed of subtropical moisture is aimed directly at British Columbia and the Northern Rockies. This ensures high-volume precipitation totals through the week. The northern latitude resorts (Banff Sunshine, Revelstoke, Whistler Blackcomb) are positioned perfectly to keep snow levels low enough for the goods to pile up as snow rather than rain. Banff, in particular, will see temperatures in the teens and 20s, producing high-quality, low-density blower powder while others battle the damp.
The Bad
This system carries significant warmth, characteristic of an atmospheric river. By Wednesday, freezing levels could spike near 8,000 feet in parts of Idaho, Wyoming, and Southern Montana, bringing rain to the base areas of Jackson Hole, Grand Targhee, and Sun Valley. Strong winds are also a major factor; gusts exceeding 50 mph are forecast for high ridges in the Cascades and Northern Rockies, which will likely trigger lift holds and scour exposed alpine terrain.
The Wildcards
The timing of the cold front on Thursday and Friday is the critical wildcard. Models show a sharp drop in temperatures late week, which could flash-freeze wet surfaces or create a “dust on crust” scenario if the precipitation shuts off too early. However, if the moisture lingers as the cold air arrives, we could see a “right-side-up” storm that improves skiing conditions dramatically by the weekend.
Daily Forecast
Tuesday, December 9
Banff Sunshine is your primary target. While other regions contend with heavier, denser snow or wind, Banff will offer superb quality with 6–8 inches of fresh snow accumulated from Monday night through Tuesday morning. Temperatures will hold in the chilly upper teens, preserving a Snow-to-Liquid Ratio (SLR) of around 14–16:1. Whistler is a solid runner-up, holding 3–4 inches of denser snow, but the quality difference makes the Canadian Rockies the clear winner.
Wednesday, December 10
Go north to avoid the rain. Revelstoke and Whistler are the places to be, with both resorts stacking 5–8 inches of snow from Tuesday night into Wednesday daytime. Snow levels at Whistler will hover around 4,800 feet, so the alpine will be deep, while the village may see rain. Revelstoke offers a slightly colder profile and consistent moderate-density snow. Avoid the Tetons (Jackson Hole/Grand Targhee) today; despite 4–6 inches of accumulation, soaring snow levels (near 8,000 feet) and high winds will likely make for wet, difficult conditions at mid-mountain and below.
Thursday, December 11
Banff Sunshine returns as the top pick for quality. Another pulse delivers 3–6 inches of blower powder (SLR 13:1) from Wednesday night through Thursday. Revelstoke will also ski well with 3–5 inches of fresh snow. With the storm cycle continuing, recent tracks will be filled in, and the colder air in the interior will keep surfaces soft and surfy.
Friday, December 12
Bridger Bowl steals the show for its opening day. A perfectly timed wave delivers 6–9 inches of snow from Thursday night through Friday morning as temperatures drop and snow levels crash to the valley floor. Expect dense base-building snow at the bottom capped with lighter powder on top—an ideal “right-side-up” accumulation to kick off their season. Big Sky nearby will also pick up 2–3 inches, but the deeper totals favor the Bridger range.
Saturday, December 13
Whistler and Revelstoke remain productive as the weekend begins. Whistler could see a refresh of 3–5 inches by Saturday morning, keeping the alpine conditions soft. Revelstoke similarly offers 3–6 inches of storm snow. For those in the US Northern Rockies, conditions will be colder and drier, offering good stability but less fresh accumulation than the Canadian powerhouses.
Regional Details
Northern Rockies
The Northern Rockies are split into two distinct stories this week: the cold, snowy Canadian Interior and the volatile, windy US sector. Banff Sunshine and Revelstoke are the undisputed champions of this forecast cycle. They benefit from the consistent moisture of the atmospheric river but remain protected from the warmest air. Expect storm totals of 1.5 to 2.5 feet across these resorts by the weekend, with Banff producing champagne powder due to temperatures remaining well below freezing.
Further south in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, the forecast is more complex. An intense moisture surge arrives Monday night, but it brings powerful westerly winds (gusts 40–60 mph) and rising snow levels. Whitefish should stay mostly snow on the upper mountain with 9–13 inches this week, but the Tetons (Jackson Hole, Grand Targhee) and Big Sky face a challenging mid-week warm-up where rain could fall as high as 8,500 feet on Wednesday. The script flips Thursday night as a cold front sweeps through, dropping snow levels back to valley floors. This sets the stage for a fantastic Friday, particularly at Bridger Bowl, which opens with a forecast of 7–11 inches of fresh snow just as the cold air locks in.
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is taking the brunt of the atmospheric river’s energy, meaning heavy precipitation, but challenging freezing levels. For the open terrain at Whistler, this is a major accumulation event. The resort could rack up nearly 3 feet of snow in the alpine by the end of the week. However, skiers should be prepared for a distinct rain-snow line around 4,000–5,000 feet mid-week; the goods will be found in the high alpine, while the lower mountain will be wet.
For the Washington resorts (Stevens Pass, Crystal, Mt. Baker), which are currently closed, this system is a double-edged sword. It provides significant base-building precipitation (12–18 inches of water equivalent snow at higher elevations), but the warm spike on Tuesday and Wednesday brings rain risks to the pass levels. Fortunately, cooler air returns by the weekend, which should help consolidate this heavy, wet snow into a solid base for future openings.
Extended Outlook
The forecast dries out for the PNW and Northern Rockies heading into the weekend as high pressure briefly builds, bringing clearer skies and stabilizing temperatures. However, long-range models (6-10 day) suggest a return to an active, wet pattern for the Northwest early next week, keeping the storm door open for mid-December.
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