First Snowstorm Expected in Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains This Week Ahead of Winter Season

Winter may be more than a month away in the United States, but meteorologists are expecting the first snowstorm in the country soon. Based on the latest US weather forecast, a significant early-season winter storm will occur in the Pacific Northwest and northern Plains regions this week ahead of the 2023 winter season. During this period, heavy snowfall is expected in the affected regions, where poor air visibility due to whiteout conditions is possible.

The pre-winter snowstorm comes a week after the US experienced a nationwide or coast-to-coast warm front that brought warmer temperatures from the western to the eastern half of the country. Described by the National Weather Service (NWS) as a "multi-day snow storm," the winter system will impact the Northwest quadrant of the US in the next few days. The weather service also warns that the weather event will likely cause significant travel conditions across the region.

Multi-Day Snow Storm

The first snowstorm will bring heavy snow from Tuesday to Wednesday, October 24 to 25 not only across parts of the Northwest and northern Rockies but also in the northern Plains, according to the NWS in its latest short-range forecast at 4:00 a.m. EDT (local time) on Tuesday. The forecast is valid until Thursday, October 26.

During this period, the early-season snowstorm will persist due to an upper-level low over the northwestern US moving in a southeastward pattern. The said low will help drive the pre-season winter storm from the Pacific Northwest through the Rocky Mountains and into the Great Plains starting Tuesday evening, the US weather agency adds.

Snowstorm Affected Areas

The NWS predicts that moderate to thick snow will fall from western North Dakota and eastern Montana into the lower elevations of western Montana. Mountain snow is also possible in the northern Rockies and northern Cascades. The regional snow event may spread eastward as far as eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota by Wednesday night.

Meteorologists project that a surge of cold air and moisture will spread across the Northwest, mainly from Washington and Oregon, through Montana on Tuesday before the first winter storm impacts the region on Tuesday evening, affecting other states like Idaho and even South Dakota by Thursday, October 26.

2023 US Winter Season

The US is currently in its fall season since late September, which saw relatively lower temperatures following the scorching heat during the summer season from June to August. As the 2023 US winter season approaches, long-range forecasts are coming in as to general average temperatures and even the frequency of winter storms.

In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provided a U.S. Winter Outlook report on October 19, forecasting that the El Nino climate pattern is causing potential "warmer-than-average temperatures" for the northern tier of the continental US this coming winter. Meanwhile, the southern US will be wetter than usual in contrast to the warmer northern US.