U.S. Snow Report Today

Late-Season Snow Brings Relief to Select Western Locations as Alaska Braces for Incoming System

While much of the Lower 48 has transitioned into summer weather patterns, a pair of monitoring stations reported modest snowfall accumulations over the past 24 hours, with attention now shifting northward as Alaska's North Slope prepares for a more significant event. Sawmill Ridge in Washington's Cascade Range and Vallecito in Colorado's San Juan Mountains each logged 2 inches of fresh snow, though dramatically different base depths—170 inches versus 3 inches respectively—tell contrasting stories of their seasonal snowpack health. Looking ahead, Alaska's remote northern regions are positioning themselves as the nation's primary snow producers, with Imnaviat Creek forecast to receive 6 inches and Atigun Pass expecting 4 inches over the coming 24-48 hours.

The Pacific Northwest continues to demonstrate its propensity for holding winter conditions at elevation, as Sawmill Ridge's substantial 170-inch base represents one of the healthiest remaining snowpacks in the continental United States. Located in the central Cascades near popular destinations like Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass, this area received its 2-inch addition despite forecasts calling for haze transitioning to thunderstorm potential—a classic spring weather pattern where convective systems can produce brief but intense snow bursts above 5,000 feet. Meanwhile, Colorado's Vallecito station sits in concerning territory with only 3 inches of base remaining, though the 2-inch overnight addition provides temporary reprieve for what has been a challenging snow year across much of the southern Rockies.

The forecast for showers and thunderstorms suggests this may be among the final accumulating events before complete melt-out.

The true action, however, belongs to Alaska's Arctic frontier. Imnaviat Creek, situated along the Dalton Highway corridor north of the Brooks Range, leads national forecasts with 6 inches expected amid rain-snow mix and foggy conditions—challenging weather for the truckers servicing the North Slope oil fields but excellent news for those tracking late-season accumulation patterns. Atigun Pass, the highest highway pass in Alaska at 4,739 feet, should receive 4 inches despite freezing fog complicating travel conditions.

Even Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean coast may see 2 inches, remarkable for a location already experiencing near-24-hour daylight. These northern systems underscore Alaska's unique position as America's year-round snow laboratory, where accumulation events remain possible through June.