U.S. Snow Report Today

Northern Tier Sees Modest Snow Activity as Alaska Braces for Incoming System

A quiet snowfall pattern has developed across the continental United States over the past 24 hours, with only scattered accumulations reported in Washington and Colorado, while Alaska's North Slope prepares for what could be the most significant snow event in the coming days. Current observations show minimal activity in the Lower 48, but forecasters are watching a developing system that promises to deliver meaningful accumulations to Alaska's remote northern regions, particularly along the Dalton Highway corridor where some locations could see up to six inches of fresh powder.

In the Pacific Northwest, Sawmill Ridge in Washington's Cascade Range recorded two inches of new snow over the past day, bringing its base depth to a respectable 170 inches—a promising sign for the region's snowpack as late-season storms continue to add to the winter's bounty. The area faces an unusual weather transition with haze giving way to possible thunderstorms, a pattern that could produce additional wet snow at higher elevations. Meanwhile, Colorado's Vallecito reported matching two-inch totals, though with a considerably thinner base of just three inches and thunderstorms in the forecast.

The San Juan Mountains location reflects the intermittent nature of spring snowfall in the southern Rockies, where convective activity can produce brief bursts of accumulation.

The real story for snow enthusiasts lies in Alaska's Brooks Range, where Imnaviat Creek leads the forecast with six inches expected amid rain-snow mix and areas of fog. This remote location sits in the heart of Alaska's North Slope, where temperatures hover near freezing and precipitation type remains uncertain. Atigun Pass, a critical gateway along the Dalton Highway at 4,739 feet elevation, anticipates four inches of accumulation despite challenging conditions including freezing fog and mixed precipitation.

Even Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic coast could see two inches, though warmer temperatures may transition the precipitation to rain. These northern Alaska locations represent the tail end of the winter season, where May snowfall, while not uncommon, provides vital moisture for the tundra ecosystem and creates challenging travel conditions along one of North America's most isolated highways.