Storms to spread rain, mountain snow across western US this week

Residents across much of the western United States can expect more unsettled and chilly conditions this week.

"At least two storm systems will target the West with rounds of rain and mountain snow through Friday, but neither of these system will be particularly powerful," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Michael Doll said.

The first of these storms began to move ashore on Monday and will slowly push eastward into the Rockies through Wednesday morning.

Although the atmospheric river of moisture that pounded residents of California with concentrated rounds of flooding rainfall this winter will remain weak and disorganized this week, those living along the Interstate-5 corridor from Sacramento to Seattle can expect to see bouts of showers.

As quickly as the first storm exits, the next storm is forecast to push onshore by Wednesday morning and take until late in the day on Friday to push east of the Rockies.

Another half inch to an inch of rain will soak the coastline from Washington to Northern California from Wednesday into Thursday, but the foothills of Central California should remain too far south to receive more than a few light showers.

While the Sierra Nevada will be spared from another round of snow, the Bitterroots of Idaho and Montana can have upwards of 6 inches of accumulation on Thursday and Friday.

If the storm slows down and strengthens as it dives into the central Plains on Friday, enough moisture could linger in the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado for snowfall amounts to exceed 6 inches in spots.

The snow will come as a welcome sight for skiers heading to Aspen, Vail or Breckenridge, Colorado, this week eager to take advantage of the deep snow pack still in place.

Tourists traveling to Yellowstone National Park should be prepared for unseasonably chilly air and the possibility of a few inches of snow on Thursday and Friday.

In general, temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and central and northern Rockies will average as much as 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit below mid-April averages this week.

The cool air is nothing new for residents of the West who have been plagued by months of below-average temperatures so far in 2017.

Portland, Oregon, still has not reached 65 F in 2017 and broke the old record of latest recorded 65-degree temperature on Sunday when the high failed to reach 65. Residents of Portland can finally expect to see temperatures exceed 65 by Friday.

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